Meow
Disclaimer: You'd think by now I'd at least own SOMETHING, but alas I do not…only Serenity Anderson.
A/N: I LOVE YOU ALL! ..:ducks the rocks and hunks of flaming wood:.. Thanks for your patience and support! This chapter would have been out sooner, but I didn't like they way it kept coming out…I don't know how many times I ended up deleting and re-writing the darn thing, but I was trying to make sure that everybody stayed in character and that they weren't ooc. I still don't know if I'm completely satisfied with it…ANYWAY, if you want to just skip right ahead to the actual chap…go for it, otherwise…
NekoGuyFan, Her get into serious trouble? Define serious trouble, lol. Well, here's your update enjoy!
alias245, Awe, I hope I haven't kept you waiting too, too long. I'm delighted you enjoyed it though, and I hope you enjoy this one!
Lady-Crymsyn, Well, here's the next one! Enjoy! As for some Batty action…it's coming – it's coming…soon.
Ntwebguy, Thanks! I always found Two-face such an interesting character! Enjoy the next chap!NeoNails, Well, hello my feline friend! We'll just hafta see what Serenity does… and I'm glad that you loved the whole jacket thing! Happy readings!
XinnLajgin, Lol, THANKS! I take it the that you like this, hehe. Enjoy the next chap.
Anime-Ronin, ACK! Hunks of flaming wood! And I totally agree with you, Batman had the BEST villains out of all the superhero community! Enjoy the next chap!
Maid of the Mer, You can't take my muffins away from me! Mwahaha! Here's the next chap so…where's my muffin? lol Thanks! Here's the next chapter, ENJOY! I'm glad you love it!
Kyoko Kasshu Minamino, I write two face flawlessly! Me? ..:blushes an intense red:.. Thanks, I love writing them! They're too much fun! ;) and I'll keep updating as long as you keep reviewing my friend:) And if you need any help hiding from you-know-who just let me know! lol
pyramidgirl89, Awe, I'm your first BBeyond fic? I'm so happy, that makes me feel extra special! Here's the next chap for you, Enjoy!
lt. commander richie, LMAO, you moonwalked for my story! Lol. THANKS! Well, here's another chapter!
Velvet Shadow, You're dancing for me! Heheh, thanks! Here's another update so keep on dancing! LOL!
Ratdogtwo, I'm glad it's staying interesting enough for you, lol. I like to keep you guessing!
Sand Lord, I absolutely adore your reviews! "Terry and Serenity, both unsuspicious high school students/secret superheroes," LMAO! I love it. You hit upon all the points that I think about when I'm writing this! I love your insights, keep them coming! … This isn't the first time I'm wondering this but - can you read my mind! Lol. I don't want to keep you longing for this any more, here! Another chapter, enjoy! ;)
Alma Manchada, I love the cameos from the old baddies too! They were the best villains I had to put them in here, even if it was only for a cameo ;) I'm happy you liked the jacket idea, I was hoping it would be interesting!
IkoYume, LOL, here you go! An update, so don't worry! Enjoy!
A/N: THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO REVIEWS I LOVE YOU ALL! Okay..so Enjoy the next chapy, and PLEASE, please, let me know what you think of this one because I'm still unsure about it…If you have any questions about this chapter don't be afraid to email me and let me know! And I only proof read this once, so if you see any mistakes let me know...Ack! Just go read the story and enjoy!
Have A Nice Day!
§§
Her hands trembled slightly as she picked up the small envelope. She had just come out of the shower and had been in the kitchen, getting some milk for the cats when she had spotted it lying harmlessly on the floor just a few centimeters from the door itself.
The envelope was unmarked, but for some reason she just knew it was for her. It was that gut feeling that that had never failed her in the past.
She had approached it slowly and cautiously, like how one would a dangerous animal that you thought might suddenly jump out and bite you at any given moment. Animals she had experience with…this she did not.
Selina cleared her throat as she gently picked it up and took it into the living room. She just had a feeling – another one of her gut feelings – that when she opened it, it would be wise to have a chair near by…And she always followed her gut.
Using her fingernails she carefully tore across the mouth of the envelope and opened it. Her hands wavered slightly and she bit her lip, steeling herself. She narrowed her eyes and got a grip over herself. With the many years of experience of carefully removing thousands of jewels, she pulled the small card out of the envelope with steady hands.
On it was a small simple message that caused her heart to pound almost painfully against her ribcage and her blood to roar into her ears.
"Gotham Park"
12:30
… And under it was something she hadn't seen in the longest time … the bat insignia, not that new one that the young batman was wearing around … the old bat insignia.
As much as she was feeling surprised towards this little calling card, she was a touch disappointed.
Selina gently ran her fingertips over the picture of the black bat and spoke quietly to herself,
"I knew you were still too much of a tight ass to play with me," she said with affection and with just a hint of her naughty grin.
She cast a sideways glimpse at the clock and saw that it was 10:45. She let out a light laugh as she turned back around and went to go find something to wear.
She had a date with a tight ass at 12:30.
§§
Serenity tapped her fingers against her mouth as she thought. Now that she knew where she had to go, she had to figure out howto get into the police station and had to find what she was looking for. At first she assumed that she would be able to break in as Catwoman and simply find what she was looking for, but then she remembered what happened when you assumed.
You made an Ass out of u and me.
After thinking things through a little more thoroughly, she realized that this would take a little more thought than a simple condo hit. This wouldn't just be figuring out a layout of a place or the security codes, this would be floor plans, security codes, alarms, and active people doing patrols around the area, AND on top of that, there were security cameras she would have to bypass.
This was going to be a little bit trickier...but that was okay...she was up for a challenge. The outcome would be that much sweeter...
Right now she was simply deciding which would be better, if she went in as Catwoman - or Serenity. There were both pros and cons for each persona... with Catwoman she would have to hit at night- there was no way she would be able to hit the place in broad daylight in her costume. So far nobody knew what she actually looked like- besides Terry and the original Batman- and she wanted to keep it that way. But if she snuck in as Catwoman if would be more difficult.
She would have to figure out all the alarms and codes before hand, not to mention the patrol schedules, and the personal schedules...on top of that she would have to bypass all the cameras and still be able to find what she was looking for - meaning she would have to know the location of the room that she wanted.
Serenity tilted her head to the side slightly, but than again she should know ahead of time the location of the room that she wanted to go to ahead of time. She wanted this done fairly quickly and she couldn't waste any time. If she dillydallied too long she would get caught and then it would be over. She had to have this thought out. This was too important to go in half assed and not completely prepared.
If she went in as Catwoman she would have her claws, those things were heavenly when dealing with camera wires, glass or people- Batman could attest to that. The whip also made her get away easy as well as double as a weapon. If she went in as Catwoman there would still be the chance that she would be caught. If worse came to worse and they tried to catch her, she was almost positive she would be able to perform an escape, and succeed, more or less unscathed.
But going is as Serenity had its big advantages. She would be able to infiltrate it during the day time when they were least prepared for an invasion, because come on- who would be dumb enough to attack a police station during the day time? ... She wasn't dumb...she was crafty – there was a difference…and she was going to pull this off right under their noses.
Unbidden, a thought came to Serenity about what Selina's reaction to this would be like- No…she had to focus right now…she would worry about Selina's reaction later…back to business…
Serenity shook her head slightly as she forced herself to regain focus on her current dilemma.
If she went as Serenity nobody would look twice at her if she entered the building...but then she would need a reason for being there in the first place, a reason she could tell the police. She would need a reason to be there and she would somehow have to be taken into the back storage rooms, or wherever the information that she needed was kept.
Plus if she got caught this way, there would be no mask hiding who she was. Serenity bit her lip and tilted her head to the side, she could always just try and talk her way out of it- if she got caught...play dumb...
It was a possibility...
No matter how much she detested playing an imbecile, she would rather them think she was an airhead than get caught.
And if she were Serenity then she wouldn't have to worry about the Bat factor. He wouldn't be at the police station during the daytime; he'd be at Wayne's. There would be little to no risk of them bumping into each other, he had no idea that THAT was what she was going after next- he had no clue.
Serenity or Catwoman
Serenity or Catwoman
She flexed her fingers as if she were brandishing her claws and stared down at her slightly pale hands.
Absently she made a 'note-to-self' about how she had to get out in the sun more often, the moon was doing nothing for her complexion. She rolled her eyes at herself.
She shook her head slightly to get her thoughts back on track. Again. This was Serenity's mission, not Catwoman's. This was about Serenity's family and Serenity finally being able to let go and move on- not Cats...Cat was just going to help her achieve it...
Unconsciously she clenched her fist before she realized what she was doing and relaxed her hand, lightly rubbing her fingers.
She would go as Serenity...she owed it to herself.
Serenity glanced up from her gaze on the table to take a quick peek at the clock. She let out a small grunt, 12:26... She wanted to get this taken care of as soon as she could, but knew that this plan had to be perfect and therefore would take some time to perfect it ... at least now she made a decision about who to go as.
Now she just needed a plan.
§§
Serenity let out a low growl as she crossed off yet another one of her stories to get into the police station…wait- maybe that would-…no- that wouldn't do either!
"Ugh!" She threw the notebook off the table in disgust. She let out a puff of air and dug her nails into the wood of the lunch table. She was at lunch right now, outside at a table by a tree- and by herself. This was the perfect opportunity for her to think things through. Earlier in math class she was able to pick out who she was going as, but now that she was sitting down to think things through it was proving to be tougher than she had originally thought.
First things first though, she already knew that she had to get the floor plans to the police station to find the rooms that she would most likely need access to... but that was a piece of cake. Floor plans were no problem for her-
She was broken from her thoughts when she saw some jocks walk by where she was sitting and about to go into the building. They stalled for a moment as they, less than suavely, checked her out.
She felt a feral growl form low in her throat. Her patience had been already worn out trying to think up of ways to get into the police station- she had none left to deal with them.
"Get lost!" she snarled and a light bulb went off over her head.
THAT WAS IT!
It was stupid and ridiculously cheesy sounding…but just might be useful enough to help her pull this off.
Lost, as in lost and found. After she got onto the commissioners computer she should locate the files she wanted and then check out the location of the lost and found. Surely the police station had to have a lost and found right? And hopefully that would be near the location of the storage rooms. Usually they throw all those rooms together…and probably in the back or downstairs.
The wheels in her head turned a mile a minute and her eyes flickered back and forth with each developing thought.
Okay, so all she had to go was get into the commissioners computer, find which area held her information- whatever, then get into the storage room itself and find all the information that she wanted, and then get out. Okay, it didn't sound so bad.
Now, to get started.
§§
Selina Kyle never showed nervousness or impatience. She, like her namesake, was always cool, calm and collected. What ever she did she gave off the air that she meant to do it that way.
She leaned back on the park bench she was resting upon and casually looked around the area. No doubt trying to spot the elusive bat- but to no avail. She wouldn't be able to find him unless he wanted to be found. Something they had in common.
She crossed her legs and ignored the hiss of pain that accompanied it. A movement that had once been like second nature to her, which she used countless times without thought or conscious decision, now made her stop and take notice. Damn old age, how sad that a simple movement like that caused her slight pain. She could still remember how she used to be, how easily and fluidly she could move.
…Now…
She missed it...the thrill...the chase...that feeling that made life a little sweeter. Sometimes she could still feel the cool wind brush her cheeks and hear the darkness calling to her, telling her to come out and play.
She felt that tingle run down her spine and smiled. Although her exterior remained unaffected, on the inside she was fighting against the butterflies that were now bashing against each other in her stomach. She was once again glad that she had eaten a light breakfast, a very light breakfast- it slowed down the butterflies.
Although at the moment she felt like the women in those Alien movies that Serenity made her watch.
But that tingle, she could never forget that tingle...that meant he was here...he was near.
She sat a little bit straighter on the bench and stuck her hand in her pocket to once again feel the card she had received from him only earlier, let it reassure her. He wouldn't stand her up...HE contacted HER…and Batman was not one to go back on his word.
She felt the tingle intensify and knew he was getting closer.
She glanced a chance at the path to her left, probably her last chance...she could run if she wanted, well maybe not run- she couldn't exactly run anymore...but escape...
Why would you want to?'a voice whispered in her mind.
The answer was immediate; because she was good at it...she was good at running from the police, the law...and him.
She knew that, he knew that...hell, even Harvey knew that.
When she looked back over, there he was.
Of course he wasn't actually sitting down next to her, he was standing next to the bench she was sitting on, cane in one hand, using the bench to keep his balance with the other. He looked slightly winded, but that was just because she knew him and read the expression on his face.
She was slightly surprised by the fact he was as still as silent as ever while moving. He may not have been able to move the same, lord knew she couldn't, but he was still decent...she didn't expect any less from him.
Silence surrounded them.
What did one do at a time like this? Wasn't it supposed to be like those romance novels were there were one long staring contest and a deafening silence, where the earth seemed to stop moving and the noise fades into the background? Well, this wasn't a romance novel so she broke the tension like she always did-
"Well, well, well, look what the cat dragged in…" Selina drawled out with a small grin on her lips. Her face was relaxed and the wrinkles that aged her skin almost seemed to melt away.
"But than again," she continued, "I think it would be more accurate to say the bat dragged the cat…"
Silence rained once again before she nodded to the spot next to her on the bench, not that she had to indicate for him to sit, but still it gave her something to do. Her face sobered slightly,
"Been a long time," she said a little softer, almost wistful.
"Whose fault is that?" came the immediate retort. Selina was prepared for it though, and just met him with a level gaze. He always had been sharp with his tongue…meow.
"You could have found me if you wanted," she said looking over at him. It was true; he was BATMAN for crying out loud.
"You didn't want to be found," he replied and it wasn't a question; it was a statement. He finally looked at her and there gazes locked, deep cobalt meeting pure emerald.
"How'd we get from there to here?" she questioned softly.
He didn't say anything and Selina would have laughed, for once the mighty Batman didn't have an answer…but this time it wasn't really humorous.
She wasn't about to volunteer an answer so she opted to also remain silent. She reminded herself of the fact that there had to of been a reason that he contacted her, something he wanted to tell her – something he still had left to say.
What that was though, she had no clue.
But he'd tell her shortly – he wasn't one to beat around the bush…one of the many reasons that she loved him.
"Choices," he said so suddenly it took all her years of being the best damn cat burglar to not jump in surprise. When she just stared at him he elaborated, "The choices we've made in the past have led us to where we are today – whether they were right or wrong are a different discussion," he finished dryly.
He was surprised when Selina didn't immediately reply with one of her snappy or double-entendre comments. She had a surprisingly serious expression covering her face and remained silent for a few more moments.
"I'm still gray," she said with muted realization, almost as if the thought had never occurred to her before. Bruce was the one to now to sit and wait in silence, waiting for her explanation. He was pretty sure he knew what she was talking about though, and it wasn't her hair color.
She let out a small dry laugh, "You still see things in black and white, good and bad – And I'm still gray."
She continued to stare at him and she couldn't help but realize that he would always be Batman even if he weren't the one wearing the cape and cowl. She shook her head from side to side and looked at him. There was some pain hidden in her gaze as she focused on him.
"Even after all this time, I'm still gray to you." It was a statement.
And it hurt.
He didn't rebuff or deny it though - she was right after all. She was always going to be the gray zone to him. She was never fully his opposite of him…just her own person…but she was still just out of his reach in the morals divide.
And that's what it was really…She was always just out of reach for him.
She was that middle ground that he could never reach, too far across where he couldn't touch. No matter how much he wanted to grasp for her hand, his morals would never fully let him.
But, oh how he wanted to.
How many times had he played out different scenarios in his head where he had finally put his conscious aside and finally let himself be happy? How many times had he played out different run-in's between them and fantasize that maybe he had said something differently, acted differently…made a different choice.
"Selina," he started but then said nothing. He didn't know what to say – he knew that he had to say something…wanted to say something…but what that something was he had no idea. For heavens sake, he sent her a note to tell her to meet him here. He requested her presence and she was here, but he still couldn't make the words come out…and she was still waiting for him. Like Always.
He opened his mouth to try and relay something that he had wanted to tell her, 'You look beautiful, I miss you, I love you…I still love you'
"So she had to take the Jade cat on the first night out?" he said instead, and immediately he hated himself for it. Wasn't it always like this though? She'd be right in front of him but he would never say the words she wanted to hear.
Instead of being angered at his cowardice of showing emotion she remained oddly emotionless, at least on the outside, like a statue. How many times had this happened to her? The 'almost's', and 'could have's'. How long had she thought about it? Too many…but at least she learned from it.
Shoptalk, she thought dryly. They would have to start with shoptalk, then work up to the good stuff. She had to get the shoptalk out of the way before he would open up…and she had faith that he would get to what he wanted to say her…that he'd open up- at least a little bit. Calling her out was no little step, he wanted to say something, it would just taking him a while to warm up to the subject.
"Shoptalk…" she murmured to herself disappointed, "alright."
The funny thing was though that she really didn't know what to say, the infamous Catwoman without a comeback. She wanted to talk about one thing and he wanted to avoid talking about that one thing, and wanted to talk about another.
This was one of the only times she didn't have witty comeback, just answers.
"Actions do speak louder than words," she said but her voice was surprisingly serious. He got her double meaning but she continued,
"Would it of grabbed your attention if it was anything else?" she asked rhetorically, "No, it wouldn't of."
His head lowered slightly in acknowledgement.
"It was clever to divert the security tape until she was present with Terry," he said, but Selina could tell there was something else he was trying to get at.
She shrugged her shoulders lightly, being a bit more modest than she would have normally. "All I did was delay the alarm." He seemed almost hesitant when he continued,
"And you taught her the song - messed him up." Like it did to me all those years ago, he thought to himself.
Ah. So, that was it, Selina realized. The song. Hearing about the song from his boy had rattled him. Good. She felt a small amount of satisfaction course through her.
Year's early, back before things got…complicated…they had managed to actually go out. Still to this day Selina couldn't figure out how Bruce managed to convince himself to go out with her…she was just thankful he did. It turned out to be a most pleasant evening of dinner and dancing, the kind that both had been longing for. It was a nice evening of normalcy, and one of the few that both of them would get to share with each other. The dancing of course is where the song came into play. Ironically that song was the first song that they danced to together. Both had been highly amused at the time…
Selina snapped back to the present and realized that she hadn't responded to him. Her words were delicate and simple, but no less honest.
"I thought it was fitting." She met his stare but he made no reply.
Again silence surrounded them.
For how long they remained that way she wasn't sure, time seemed to loose it's meaning when they were together. Minutes seemed to pass like hours but still they remained soundless.
Selina tapped her fingers on the bench next to her lap restlessly, how much longer were they going to sit there and not say anything? She shifted on the bench slightly. Well, she thought sarcastically, this isn't awkward at all. Time to break the silence and lighten the mood.
"My girl can take your boy," she said suddenly with a hint of her old grin. Bruce looked at her and lifted an eyebrow.
"You always were cocky," he said flatly but there was a light to his eyes that told her he was teasing. Her grin turned into a full smile,
"Cocky?" she questioned playfully, over exaggerating. She huffed slightly, "I was thinking…confident." A rueful grin was hovering over his lips and she rolled her eyes, "like you're one to talk."
She was met with one of his patent Bat stares and laughed lightly.
"A bat glare, haven't seen one of those in a while."
His face softened but when he spoke next his voice was gruff,
"You've trained her well," he complimented, and Selina felt pride swell up inside of her. She couldn't help the genuine smile from crossing her face as she gazed at him. "Thank you," she said softly. Compliments from Bruce were rare and few, but when he gave them you knew that he meant it.
He never said anything he didn't mean.
"As have you with the boy," she returned. She waited a beat before she spoke again,
"You must love him a lot…" when he turned to her sharply she cocked her head. Narrowing her eyes slightly, she studied him.
"That's right, I said the 'L' word," she confirmed still watching. Always watching. She was looking for something…a spark or a flash of something…some splash of emotion that she would be able to gage or try to read. He was one of those cases where if you blinked, you'd miss it.
Sadly though, his face remained stoic- like always. But when he spoke he wasn't as steady as he always was.
"It's just a word."
Selina continued to stare at him, her eyes boring into his, "What? What's just a word?"
He didn't turn his gaze away from her and remained silent. Selina waited with baited breath but his answer never came, just like she figured. She slowly shut her eyes and turned to face forward again. She let out an uneven breath and unclenched her knuckles from the end of the bench; she hadn't realized that she had been clutching at it so tightly. But the proof was there because her knuckles were white with strain; it was a wonder that she hadn't chipped a nail or felt any pain.
"You can't even say it…Love isn't just a word," she protested. She turned and met his eyes again, silently imploring him to understand. He remained silent so she continued,
"Love…love is giving someone the ability to destroy you, but trusting them enough to know they won't."
He still remained silent and Selina was running out of ideas. She really didn't know what else to say and was beginning to feel foolish. Did she really think that he would change his whole life style just for her? For once I her life Selina Kyle was questioning whether if she should just give up. After all, if he wasn't going to compromise all those years ago what would make him do it now?
She looked away in depression at the feeling of serious déjà vu of this scenario. If they were just doomed to repeat their 'relationship,' or lack there of, why had he called her here then? She had thought that maybe just once…had hoped that …She shut her eyes before speaking quietly, and she wasn't sure if it was to herself or to him.
"You know I was hoping that after all these years that maybe…just maybe, we could have made it work…finally put aside all those things that had separated us…finally get to experience some contentment-" She steeled herself and looked at him once more, but his gaze was across the park at something she refused to distract herself with.
"-finally get our happy ending…" she trailed despondently.
"Real life doesn't work that way…" he broke in but he didn't meet her eyes. His voice was even rougher than usual, "people like us don't get happy endings," he whispered, and this was the side nobody else but her ever got to witness.
This was his vulnerable side. This wasn't the impenetrable Batman – no, this small flash of emotion was Bruce Wayne.
Pure Bruce Wayne.
The Bruce Wayne that was still clutching his dead mother and father's lifeless hands in his grasp in that damp dingy ally. Who was still, to this day, hurting…almost too broken to even hope - even if it was for his own happiness.
Her persistence had actually paid off.
Selina's insides melted, like it did each time she saw him like this. How come she so weak for this man? Why? Because he was who he was, doomed forever to pay for the mistakes of others just because he could never let himself not. His nobility always astounded her, how could she not love him?
He was a tragic hero…he was her tragic hero.
She took his hand and gave him the smile reserved only for him,
"Then how about …just for today?" she questioned gently. Softly. He looked at her for a moment and gently laced his aged fingers with hers. Maybe he couldn't have what he wanted forever, but maybe he could have it for a little while. Where was the harm in allowing himself this small ray of happiness? Today. He would grant himself today. He earned it.
He smiled softly when she rested her head against his shoulder, and gently placed his own head on top of hers. Today they weren't Selina Kyle and Bruce Wayne, the old Batman and Catwoman. Today, they were just Bruce and Selina.
Anyone passing by would simply see an elderly couple sitting together on a bench in the park, resting against each other radiating waves of love. They gave off the air of an old married couple, but if you looked closely enough there were no rings adorning either hand. To anyone else it would simply be another day…
…But to the couple on the bench the sun already seemed to shine a little brighter.