Meow
Disclaimer: Don't own anything except Serenity Anderson. William Blake owns the poem, "The Tyger."
Can you guys guess where this poem is from?
A/N: Thanks to all my reviewers! I love you guys!
CATgrl, Here's more! And that was one of the reasons I liked the name Serenity cause it was such a contrast to Catwoman! Glad you picked that up! ;)
Ratdogtwo, Thanks, and Thanks for the review :)
Lady Element, No problem! I don't want any Cat-less folk, I want Cat…um…filled! I want happy Cat folk…let's just leave it at that! Lol
Kyoko Kasshu Minamino, In the shower...LOL Here's the next chapter! I'm glad you're liking this.
Anyway, Happy Easter to all who celebrate and here's the next chap (last chap till Catwoman!)...
Let me know what you think, and Have A Nice Day!
§§
-Next Day-
Terry's eyes shot open when he felt a sharp kick to his shin. Suppressing a small groan, he turned and shot a death glare at Max who was looking innocently out the window.
It was the beginning of third period English and he was falling sleep yet again. When he turned his attention to the front of the room he realized that attendance was being taken. He let out a sigh and leaned back in his chair. The day was going so slowly…
"Anderson?"
The room was a quiet murmur as the names were being read but all paused when nobody answered this one. All eyes turned to the empty seat in the back of the room by the window.
"Serenity Anderson?" the teacher repeated.
Who?
Terry looked around the room and after a moment realized that THAT was her name, the girl in his building. Serenity. That's what it was! Terry felt a small smirk form on his lips as he imaged what he would tell Wayne later when he stopped by and what Wayne would say. His smirk faded, what Wayne would say? Probably nothing.
"Well, I guess this is the end of Miss Andersons perfect attendance," the teacher mused with raised eyebrows before continuing on down the list.
Max turned to look at Terry with a raised eyebrow. He had informed her that he had…helped Serenity out last night. He wasn't surprised that she wasn't here today. She had gone through some experience yesterday and he would have been surprised if she HAD shown up. If he hadn't come in time…
He shook himself of those thoughts, he had come in time and she, Serenity, was fine. There was no point in playing 'the what if game' when she was fine.
Serenity, how could he forget that name!
"McGinnis," a sharp jab to his shin again.
"Here!" he called taking a swing at Max's leg.
He tried to keep his eyes open but knew it was a loosing battle. He felt his eyes drift close again as the teacher finished up the roll call and began on that day's lesson.
"Now everybody, I'm passing out a famous poem by the poet William Blake," the teacher said handing out the papers, much to the class's unenthusiastic groan.
"Oh, how horrible, you have to read a poem," the teacher mocked dramatically walking back to his deck and leaning on the end of it.
"Who wants to start reading? The poems called The Tyger."
The teacher raised an eyebrow when nobody raised his or her hand.
"Don't all raise your hands at once now," he said dryly.
He was just about to call on somebody when the door opened. All eyes turned to the door where two figures stood, one was the principal and the other, was Serenity.
"Oh my," the teacher said softly taking in the sight of one of his students.
"Sorry to disturb your class but I had to steal her for a few moments," the principal explained and all eyes fell on Serenity. Terry's jaw dropped when he saw her.
Her temple was a dark blue purple color and her bottom lip was split and slightly puffy. There were pale red marks around her neck, and the left side of her jaw was slightly discolored. Because he knew where to look he spotted something bulky underneath her shirt around her ribs. Her hair was down it appeared like she was trying to hide her face from everyone.
The principal started to help her to her seat when she turned and shot him a look,
"I can do it," she said firmly and he dropped his hand. Walking stiffly over to her seat she ignored the stares of every single person in the room. She never cared what they thought of her before, why should she care now?
Realizing her face was down she raised her chin defiantly and caught the stare of the teacher. He jerked almost like he had been burned when her blue eyes locked on him.
"If you need help or-" the principal started only to be cut off.
"I'm fine," she said gingerly sitting down in her seat and carelessly dropping her books on the floor. She turned her attention to the front of the room and waited. The principal took the hint, nodded to the teacher, and left.
The room was silently still for a moment, all just staring at her, before the teacher snapped out of it. He cleared his throat awkwardly and clapped his hands together once.
"So," he said getting back on topic, "Who is going to read this poem?"
When nobody said anything Serenity spoke up simultaneously brushing some of her long hair out of her face, "I will."
"Oh, um, okay, just look on with somebody else, it seems- I don't have- any more copies," he fumbled with some papers on his desk obviously flustered.
She rolled her eyes before turning the person next to her who was blatantly staring at her, no-not her, her bruises. Could they be anymore blatant and obvious? Nice job being discretion guys, really, she thought to herself.
Selina had warned her that people would stare when she went to school today, she had been expecting it…but it was weird when you were actually experiencing it. Nobody really paid too much attention to her before and now all eyes were on her…it was odd.
Terry closed his mouth and saw Max do the same shortly after. She shot him a dark look that clearly stated he hadn't told her everything and he dropped his gaze from hers. He didn't have time to worry over what Max would say to him later, he was too focused on the girl in the back of the room. How was she in school today? She should be at home nursing her injuries!
Nobody had yet to give her the poem and he saw Serenity getting embarrassed and irritated. Without thinking he handed her his paper, even though he was seated two rows over from her.
She looked up at him and flashed him a grateful smile to which he nodded his head. Was this all he could ever do? Nod to her? For some strange reason he could never just speak to her.
Her voice was smooth when she spoke and Terry shut his eyes as he listened to her,
"Tyger! Tyger! Burning bright
In the forests of the night
What immortal hand or eye
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?
In what distant deeps or skies
Burnt the fire of thine eyes?
On what wings dare he aspire?
What the hand dare seize thy fire?
And what shoulder, & what art,
Could twist the sinews of thy heart?
And why thy heart began to beat,
What dread hand? & What dread feet?
What the hammer? What the chain?
In what furnace was thy brain?
What the anvil? What dread grasp
Dare its deadly terrors grasp?
When the stars threw down their spears
And water'd heaven with their tears,
Did he smile his work to see?
Did he who made the Lamb make thee?
Tyger! Tyger! Burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?"
And class continued on.
§§
-After School-
Today had been the first day in which he didn't fall asleep in class and Terry was so proud of himself. Of course the reason he didn't fall asleep in English was because he had been torn up about Serenity. She looked so bad!
It bothered him. Usually after he saved somebody he never really saw them again…now it was somebody he saw everyday and it hurt to see.
When he left her the night before she didn't look that horrible, the bruises not so dominant over her features. Now that he saw her in the daytime it looked worse than he remembered. Her skin seemed paler and the bruises seemed to stand out more. To him it almost seemed like they were taunting him, but maybe he was just being paranoid.
He had to stay after for a short while to talk to a teacher about his 'sleep habits,' but now he was done and heading over to Wayne's. He exited the building slowly and walked down the steps. School was mostly deserted with only a few people lingering here and there.
His eyes scanned the remaining people as he took a few steps and stopped. There she was, it seemed she was everywhere now. Was she always around this much before? Had she always been there and he just never saw her?
She was sitting on the ground, her hair flowing down her back in a wave of gold and brown. Was her hair always that long? Since when did she have dirty blond hair? Her arms were wrapped around her waist and her book bag was lying carelessly by her side. It looked like she was waiting for somebody to pick her up.
She must have felt him watching her because she turned and looked towards him. He saw recognition in her eyes and a soft smile graced her features. He gave one in return and she dropped her gaze and turned back around.
Gathering up his courage he began walking towards her and he saw her shoulders tense slightly as he approached.
"Hey," he said stopping a foot or two away from her.
"Hey," she replied softly, shoulders still tense.
"This seat taken?" he questioned pointing to the spot next to her on the ground. She was silent a moment and he knew that she was wondering why now all of a sudden he was talking to her. But finally she shook her head 'no,' and he sat down. They were quiet for a moment.
"Are you okay?" he asked and immediately wished he hadn't. She turned to him, and he prepared himself for a verbal tongue-lashing.
"I'm fine Terry," she said and surprised him that she knew his name.
"I just- never seen you like- this," he stumbled over his words. He almost smacked himself in the head. Why did he keep putting his foot in his mouth?
She gave a short laugh, "me neither."
"Serenity?" he asked and she was now the one surprised that he knew her name.
"Hmm?"
They locked eyes and she saw the sincerity lying there. He actually looked almost…guilty?
"I'm glad you're okay."
"Thanks," she said softly as a light blush covered her cheeks.
They were both quiet for a few moments, the only sounds of some passing cars and some birds.
"I didn't see you in lunch," he blurted out suddenly and felt rather foolish afterwards. He scolded himself; it's called tact, Terry. Serenity looked at him oddly before letting out a soft sigh and looking down.
"I steered clear of everyone," she admitted before looking up at him, "I swear if one more person asked me what happened," she shook her head, "I was going to scream."
He took pity. This girl who normally liked solitude had everybody who never talked to her before pounce on her like a pack of hyenas. How do you know she likes being in solitude? Terry's inner voice spoke up.
"Why aren't you?" she questioned and Terry looked at her in confusion to which she clarified, "Asking me what happened."
He shrugged his shoulders lightly before answering.
"It's none of my business, if you want to tell me you can, if not," he shrugged his shoulders again, "that's okay too. I'm not going to force you to talk to me."
She nodded before turning to face the street again. After a moment she spoke.
"Pack of dogs," she said, her eyes hardening.
"What?" She turned to look at him,
"I got attacked by four dogs," she said with a slight snarl. Terry was confused? She was telling people she got attacked by dogs?
"Dogs?" He questioned. This time she shrugged.
"Dogs, Jokerz, same difference," she said flippantly.
"Four Jokerz?" he questioned sounding worried, ignorant. She turned to him with a grin.
"Nailed one in the groin so hard my foot hurt after, broke another ones nose, and flipped one over while he tried to use me as a hostage against Batman."
Terry paused when she said Batman. She said it weird, not with hatred, but not with pleasure either.
"Batman saved you?"
"Yup," she said with a frown, "Got to be a damsel in distress," she choked out. She sounded angry and sad at the same time. She wiped her eye, "Sorry, getting emotional."
"From what you said you didn't sound like a damsel in distress," he said gently trying to make her feel a little better. She turned and looked at him with an unreadable look.
"That's the friendly version, there's some stuff I omitted," she paused for a moment, "I still had to be saved," she bit her lip before shaking her head dismissively, "if you were there you'd understand."
Terry had to bite his tongue from saying that he had been there and that she had been very brave. He paused for a moment before deciding to do something he had never done before.
"What was he like?"
"Who? Batman?" she asked and he nodded. She paused for a moment and really thought about it.
"He's…" she paused once more really thinking it over. "Aloof," she finally said and Terry raised his eyebrows. He would definitely have to tell Wayne about this.
"But he was…nice, even when- ugh!" she groaned suddenly.
Terry's lips twitched. Nice but aloof?
"He probably thought I was such an airhead," she muttered shaking her head, "but in my defense I did get smacked in the head so, momentary lapse of judgment."
Ah, she was talking about the whole, 'I'm-here-if-you-need-me' speech.
"What?" Terry asked and smiled when she was flushed when she looked up at him.
"I told him if he needed help he could ask me, oh man that sounds lame, I can't believe I said that," she said putting her face in her hands.
Suddenly she looked up at him with a hopeful gaze,
"I can blame it on a concussion, right?"
He only laughed; maybe he would talk to her more often.