Chapter 3:
Catwoman's lair – early afternoon:
"Where are we going tonight, my porcelain beauty?" Batman asked as he watched Catwoman pace around the large room. She didn't respond so he tried again.
"Doll, did you hear me, sweet lady?"
"What!" the villainess snapped, irritated at being pulled out of her deep thoughts.
"Oh, I'm just thinking," she stated, changing the tone of her voice when she realized she was talking to Batman. She needed him to continue to worship her and yelling at him wouldn't help that.
Pausing mid-step, she said, "I'm trying to decide if we should crash the party and get some fine baubles off of all the rich women, or wait until after the party and go for the more priceless pieces. There are so many exotic jewels that I would love to add to my collection. There will be police at the party, of course. I have you, though, so…" she trailed off as she resumed her pacing.
But it wouldn't do to have you show your face as a villain yet. I have another taunt or two for the annoying Robin and I don't want him gaining any advantage by allowing him to obtain support from anyone. If he tries to tell people that Batman needs help, nobody will believe him unless they actually see it. No, after the party will do nicely. If the boy is there, I'll have Batman teach him a lesson in respect.
That thought brought a smile to Catwoman's face. "I have decided," she declared. "We'll wait; I want as many of those alluring jewels as possible. And I want a little bird to become even more discouraged."
"Whatever you say, sweetheart, whatever you say," Batman said with a grin. "I'll follow you until the end of forever."
But even as he smiled, a tiny crack opened in Batman's mind.
I wonder why she keeps referring to the little bird. It sounds so familiar and I feel a…bond? What am I thinking; she did say I had been with him for a while. I'm probably just used to feeling a burden, like she said. Oh, well.
And, quicker than it had opened, the tiny crack slammed shut.
"Batman," Catwoman stated loudly, attempting to retrieve his attention. He looked pensive and she didn't want him thinking too much. "Look at me, darling!"
Now it was his turn to be startled out of his thoughts. "Sorry, my sweet, I was just thinking about how nice it is to be free," he declared as he wondered why he had just omitted some of what he had been thinking. Why had he lied so easily to her?
He shook his head again, trying to rid himself of some underlying guilt that he didn't understand. Was the feeling there because he had lied to her or was it because of the elusive memory teasing him in the back of his mind?
Batman didn't know it but that feeling of guilt, combined with the lie of omission, allowed the tiny crack to reopen.
The Batcave:
Alfred and Robin awoke to a sound, but not the one they expected. The shrill beep of the Batphone pulled them out of their slumber and Robin jumped to his feet and raced to answer it.
"Yes, Commissioner?" The Boy Wonder did his best to erase the 'I just woke up' from his tone as he spoke.
"Oh, Robin, I wasn't expecting you. I need to speak with Batman; it's urgent. Not that I don't trust you, it's just that he has more experience in these matters," Commissioner Gordon tried to soften his words.
"Oh, sure, of course. Give me a minute to get him," Robin replied with disappointment clearly evident in his voice.
Right, he totally trusts me. He won't talk to me, even if Batman is 'unavailable' again.
Running back to Alfred, Robin explained the situation.
"You have an accent," he stated before the butler had even opened his mouth, "so he'll know it's not Batman. What are we going to do? Batman can't continue to be unavailable!"
Alfred thought quickly. "What if, Master Robin, we tell the commissioner that Batman is on patrol?"
"During the day?!" Robin exclaimed incredulously.
"Hm," Alfred acknowledged the comment. There was a pause as both the man and the boy attempted to think of an excuse.
"I've got it, young sir!" the faithful butler almost shouted. "Master Batman knows that the jewelry store is having its grand opening celebration tonight and is checking out security."
"Holy quick thinking, Alfred, that's impressive," Robin smiled and left the compliment hanging in the air as he sprinted back to the Batphone.
He relayed everything to Commissioner Gordon and was relieved with the answer he received from the man.
"Oh, well, that's what I was going to talk to him about. It seems he is ahead of the game, as usual. Thank you, Robin."
Robin looked upset as he hung up the phone. "I don't like lying, Alfred. But, maybe he really is scoping out the store. You know, so he can rob it," he said with a frown.
"Lying to one man is better than inducing mass panic, Master Robin. And that's what would happen if the public were to find out that Master Batman has been kidnapped."
"Gosh, yes, Alfred, you're right. I still don't like lying, though."
"Nor do I, young sir, nor do I."
Catwoman's lair:
"Batman, let's go!" Catwoman suddenly demanded. "We need to find out how much security they are going to have tonight!" Immediately changing her mind, the villainess stated, "On second thought, you stay here."
"No, baby, don't leave me. I'll be as quiet as a bat," the Caped Crusader laughed at his own lame joke.
Catwoman rolled her eyes. "I'm sure you will," she replied. "However, I don't want anyone to see you…for now, anyway. So, you are staying here and you won't give me any trouble about it, right?"
"Of course, sweetheart, whatever you say. Will you be back soon?" the love-struck bat inquired. "I'll miss you every moment you are away."
She rolled her eyes again. Maybe the drug was too strong; maybe she should tone it down a little. She didn't really want a lovesick puppy trailing after her and whispering sweet nothings whenever he got the chance.
I won't give him a pill now. I'll wait and see how he is when I return. I'm sure the last dose was strong enough to last for a few more hours.
Turning away from the man who was blowing kisses at her, the felonious feline strode to her room. Going in disguise as a reporter would make the most sense. A new jewelry store having its grand opening was certainly important enough to report in the newspaper.
Quickly changing clothes, Catwoman left her room and discreetly checked on Batman. He was sitting on the floor by her lounge chair, absently brushing the fur covering while talking softly to the large vase of pussy willows nearby.
Smiling, then giggling, the villainess left her lair and climbed into her Catmobile. Ten minutes later she was at the jewelry store, Chateau des Bijoux.
"You really are a castle of jewels, aren't you?" Catwoman murmured as she stared into the windows of the store. Rows of shimmering necklaces, bracelets, rings and earrings, all encased in clear glass, glittered brightly in the sun.
Slowly she walked around the two-story building, taking note of all the exits – a front and back door and a single window upstairs. Catwoman frowned slightly when she noticed the lack of a fire escape but then remembered she had Batman. He usually jumped from windows so, if they had to go that way, everything would be fine.
Returning to the front of the store, the villainess whispered to the window again before strolling away.
"See you tonight, my gorgeous gems."
Later that night:
Robin watched from the complete darkness on the rooftop of The Sparkly Kitten's Flower Shop – the store adjacent to Chateau des Bijoux. People, most of them high-society Gothamites, had been streaming in and out of the jewelry store for over three hours and the teenager was getting restless. He didn't think Catwoman would try anything during the party but he had arrived early just in case. Too early, apparently, since he was currently sitting on crunchy gravel and bored out of his mind.
The celebration started to slow down around midnight. Half an hour later, by Robin's excellent estimation skills, the owner was locking up his store. Pocketing the keys, the man glanced quickly around, as if he was expecting someone to appear. Robin narrowed his eyes while watching the owner stroll away down the sidewalk. Something felt off and the Boy Wonder was suspicious. But the man hadn't done anything except look around and there was nothing questionable about checking one's surroundings.
Right before the owner turned the corner, something dropped from his hand. The light of a street lamp hit the object as it fell to the ground. It was round and shiny but didn't sparkle like a jewel. Looking back at his store, the man shook his head slightly then glanced down and gently slid the shiny object into the shadows with his foot. He looked around one last time then hurried around the corner and out of sight.
Robin was now more than a little suspicious of the man. What had he dropped, why hadn't he picked it up and why had he tried to hide it? The Boy Wonder thought about going to check it out but immediately dismissed the idea. Instead, he made a mental note to find the object after foiling Catwoman's nefarious scheme.
He grimaced; he was the only one who could try to stop her. The younger and weaker half of the Dynamic Duo. Batman would always be better, stronger, smarter and more resourceful. How could he, Robin, possibly hope to rescue Batman, especially if the man didn't want to be rescued?!
The Boy Wonder checked the small pocket in his utility belt one last time, fingering his only chance to release Batman from Catwoman's clutches. There was a minute movement in the shadows on the rooftop of the jewelry store.
Here it goes.
Taking a deep breath, Robin swung silently down to the alley behind him. He turned right, away from the store, and circled the building. There was a small cement wall marking the property border between Chateau des Bijoux and the flower shop. This was his predetermined hiding spot and he crouched behind it. Robin wanted her to make the first move, allowing him to assess the situation before attacking.
Nothing was happening, just like in the clothing factory. The Boy Wonder slowly lifted his head and studied the darkness around the jewelry store. Suddenly, there was a gush of wind and then Batman was standing in front of the store, peering into the window. The man was also, Robin knew from experience, unobtrusively examining his surroundings.
"All is safe, my gorgeous goddess," Batman whispered. Catwoman instantly appeared from the side of the building, prancing daintily. She was by his side in less than three seconds and for a moment Robin was sure they were going to kiss.
Gorgeous goddess?! It has to be a drug. Not even Bruce Wayne would say something as sappy as that! How did she make, or get ahold of, a drug powerful enough to turn THE Batman into an actual human with stars in his eyes? How do I counteract such a strong substance?
Robin squeezed his eyes shut in both frustration and irritation. Batman would know what to do and, since the man had trained the boy, Robin should also know what to do. But he didn't know, and Batman was going to be disappointed.
There was a quiet noise and the Boy Wonder opened his eyes. Somehow Catwoman had entered the building without tripping the alarm. She, Batman and three goons were scraping jewels into bags while one goon played lookout just inside the doorway. The large man wasn't doing a very good job, though. Robin was able to slink out from behind the wall and, staying low, he moved toward the unsuspecting henchman.
Soundlessly sliding up beside the unobservant man, Robin took him out with a chop to the back of his fat neck. The goon, however, didn't go down quietly. Five heads instantly turned in the teen's direction when a short, high-pitched gurgle escaped from the now-unconscious man's mouth. Robin dropped to the ground milliseconds after the limp body, hoping that he hadn't been seen.
"Who on earth could be out there?" Catwoman's purring voice was dripping with sarcasm. "Come out, come out, Boy Blunder. I know you're there."
She laughed – that annoying, tinkling, flirtatious laugh that Robin detested. The Boy Wonder stood up and stepped into the light, ready to meet the challenge. The villainess grinned, pointed a long, golden fingernail in his direction and said, "Get him, boys!"
The three henchmen charged at him and Robin backed away from the door. He was in the middle of the street now, giving himself room to maneuver around during the impending battle. Three against one wasn't too bad for him but, upon comparing his small, lithe body to the bulkier ones that had just exited the building, he decided that it was more like five or six to one.
Play defense or go on the offensive?
That one thought took too long and he was forced to play defense. The most muscular of the three men strode toward Robin with a large fist aimed at the boy's face. Robin ducked under the swing and shoved his right shoulder into the man's stomach. The sturdy henchman was unfazed by the attempted tackle and he drove his left fist into the already-sore right side of the Boy Wonder's torso.
Robin yelped and scrambled away from the follow-up hit that missed his head by four inches. He recognized, from their movements in his peripheral vision, that the other two goons were about to attack. The first man was facing away from the teen, having followed through with the momentum of his failed knockout punch. Taking advantage of the opportunity, the Boy Wonder jumped on the henchman's back then bounded onto the large shoulders.
The muscular man reached for the feet that were lightly pressing on his shoulders but they were already gone. He heard a soft rustle of air, felt a solid hit on the back of his head and toppled over, unconscious before he hit the ground. Robin had jumped straight up, tucked himself into a backflip and kicked out when his legs were in line with the man's head.
Easily finishing the flip, Robin landed in a crouch as another fist swung over his head. Standing up, the Boy Wonder whirled around and punched the smallest man on the side of his face. The goon's head snapped over his shoulder and Robin quickly found a pressure point.
Darkness engulfed him and the short man began swinging wildly, hoping to get lucky and land a punishing hit on the boy. He was traveling in a circle, although he didn't recognize that fact, and becoming dizzy. There were sounds of a scuffle to his right so he turned. Robin smirked; the sound of a rock hitting the ground was taking the man away from the fight.
But there was still one left and he had moved closer while Robin was distracted with picking up a rock. The Boy Wonder gasped as a strong, flat hand shoved itself into his ribcage. He felt like his ribs were going to explode out of his back and he unwillingly dropped to his knees. A burly fist connected with the left side of his head and the teenager saw stars.
"Gotcha, kid," the henchman whispered. Pausing to taunt was a mistake; it gave Robin the opportunity to roll away and he made it to his feet. The man lunged at the boy and the teenager got underneath him. Using the henchman's momentum, Robin went low and had enough leverage to throw the goon over his previously – and probably again, now that he felt it – dislocated shoulder.
He heard the distinctive sound of flesh slamming onto concrete and Robin bent over in relief. Putting his hands on his knees, the teenager dropped his head and struggled to slow his heavy breathing and erratic heartbeat. His ears were still ringing from the punch to the head and there was a slight trickle of blood dribbling down his left cheek. The burning pain in his ribcage was intense and he squeezed his eyes shut to try to block out the feeling.
There was a soft jingle, like the welcoming bell of a jewelry store, and Robin opened his eyes. He knew what was coming but he wasn't ready to face it. Maybe he was wrong; perhaps she was just going to leave. But there was the unique sound of a cape – where had the man found another one? – swirling in the breeze and the Boy Wonder grimaced. Of course she wouldn't leave; she practically hated Robin and the boy knew it.
Catwoman watched as Robin scrambled, kicked, threw punches, dodged and ducked. He was holding his own, she had to admit it. Then again, there were only three of them. She glanced over at Batman, who was strolling around the room grabbing every piece of jewelry he saw. Staring at him as he meandered through the place, she chewed her lip thoughtfully, trying to decide whether or not to send him into the fray. Saving that decision for later, she returned her attention to the chaos in the street. Robin was wearing down but one of her men was unconscious and another was wandering around dizzily, throwing punches at the air. Well, the boy had been trained by Batman. Maybe she should have brought more men….
Batman looked at Catwoman, who was very interested in something that was happening outside. It was something upsetting, judging by the look on her face. Sauntering over to her, he smiled brightly, attempting to bring her out of her obvious unhappiness.
"What out there could possibly be more interesting to you than all these shiny trinkets?" he asked affectionately.
When she didn't answer, he looked outside and saw a young boy taking on three men, each one twice his size. It was interesting, especially since the kid had just knocked a man out cold with a kick to the head while executing a flawless backflip. Batman watched as the masked boy darted around the other two men, alternately dodging and attacking.
He's fast.
The boy found a unique pressure point on the shorter of the two still standing and, using it efficiently, caused the man to start swinging his fists wildly in the air while stumbling around.
He's clever.
But now the kid was on his knees, having just received a punishing hit to his torso and another one to his head. However, to Batman's surprise, the boy rolled away from the stronger man. That guy made a glaring mistake, lunging instead of taking a solid step, and the kid was able to take advantage. He dropped down, throwing the man over his shoulder and onto the cement, knocking him out.
He's strong, even though he's so small.
As the clearly exhausted young boy doubled over to catch his breath, Batman glanced at Catwoman. She was motionless and her body was tense with some emotion that he wasn't quite sure he understood.
"The kid is quick, athletic and smart," Batman commented without thinking of the possible consequences. "That fight was impressive."
Turning to face him, Catwoman glared darkly.
"They are not just 'shiny trinkets' and 'that kid' is a little bird who appears to be lost. He took out my men," she growled, "and needs a lesson."
Her meaning was clear and Batman turned to the door. As he walked away he heard her talking so he stopped.
"By the way, that boy is the bird who was bothering you for so long. He's the one who took you away from home, away from me."
Batman growled when he heard this. "Then he shall be taken care of, beautiful," he snarled as he stalked out the door.
A/N: Pretty sure that the pressure point mentioned is nonexistent. Again, just roll with it. ;)