6.
~ Selina had hoped all of this was just a bad dream. Sometimes her dreams were so real she wasn't sure if she could trust them or not. Her dreams were especially bad when she felt helpless or out of control. When she was younger, nightmares always haunted her. The only times she actually felt safe was when she stayed at Wayne Manor. Not even her own apartment could compare to way she slept so peacefully in the pink bedroom Bruce had given her. She could never admit to anyone that perhaps it was Bruce and Alfred that made her feel that way. They were so steady, so stable and permanent, she knew they would never falter in any storm. True, Bruce wouldn't last a second on the mean streets of Gotham, but he was reassuring non the less. His money and influence was what protected him. None of this would have happened if she had stayed at Wayne Manor.
She woke up in a strange place. Her bed here was just a mattress of the floor and her bedroom completely spartan with crumbling plaster on the walls. The grand house had certainly seen better days.
She sat up and looked around her. This house must have been apart of the old money of Gotham. Perhaps Bruce's parents had known the owners. Now, it was a hiding place for her kidnappers. Who was this Fish person and why was Ivy so committed to her? Ivy never committed herself to anything. The Ivy she knew wasn't like this strange woman that had drugged and kidnapped her. It had to be more than just a simple alliance to take out a mutual enemy.
Selina looked out the window and saw she was well outside of the city. Woods surrounded the house and grounds, but she could still see some of city's tallest buildings in the distance. Gotham's towers beckoned her home like a siren song.
She tried to open the window and felt it was locked securely with a new padlock and hasp.
She jumped when a large dog savagely attacked the window as if he wanted to break in and maul her. His jaws were wolf like and hungry for her. She had always hated dogs. When she was younger, a pack of dogs had attacked her. She and some other kids were looking for food in the ally of a restaurant during the bad times. Selina shut her eyes tightly at the painful memory and backed away from the window.
"Fish keeps the whole place on lock down." Ivy said. "No one in or out."
Selina turned to see her old friend was standing in the doorway. Ivy looked different from last night. Her hair wasn't so shiny, her legs didn't seem as long. her makeup more natural.
"Sleep well?" Ivy asked and handed her a cup of something that smelled wonderful.
Selina waved the cup of coffee away. She wasn't trusting Ivy anymore after what happened last night.
"You slept almost all day." Ivy told her and sipped the coffee herself.
"Maybe it was the drugs." Selina said hatefully.
"Cat, don't be like that. You know I had to. We need your help. Fish has to get rid of this nigh bat whoever he is. All we're asking is for your help in luring him out. We're going to set a trap for him." Ivy said.
"What makes you think I can lure him and not the cops?" Selina asked.
"Only that you've done it a hundred times before. Are you not the best cat burglar around? If not, I can tell Fish and she can shoot you in the head right now." Ivy said coldly.
Selina felt like her blood had turned to ice.
"What is it you want me to do?" she asked.
"Simple." Ivy said. "Our sources tell us that our little crime fighter has been attacking and stopping the movements of the red triangle gang in the narrows. Penguin is upset about it. Normally, Fish likes it when Penguin is upset, but she realized that with Penguin neutralized, that freak show would soon come after us. We can't have that."
"We don't know who he is." Selina said rationally. "How can we track him?"
"Easy, you'll break into a bank vault. The bat will come." Ivy said in a smooth, eloquent voice Selina wasn't used to.
"What if he doesn't show?" Selina asked.
"He'll show." Ivy said. "We know he's been patrolling the area these past few months. Penguin's goons are terrified of him. When the cops won't respond to the call of the break in, the good samaritan will swoop in."
"What vault am I going to break into?" Selina asked.
"Old Gotham Prime." Ivy said.
"Old Gotham Prime is in the narrows. In crime ally. That bank has been out of commission for years." Selina laughed. "There's no money in it."
"That's what you think." Ivy smiled. "Penguin keeps cash, drugs and weapons in the vault. Tax reasons I guess. It is the hub of all his misdeeds and you'll break in."
"If there is money, drugs and weapons there, then it will be heavily guarded." Selina told her. "I'll be killed the second they spot me."
"Then don't let them spot you." Ivy said simply.
~ The large conservatory looked different in the light of day. Maybe the drugs were finally wearing off, or maybe it was just the welcome relief of sunlight. The plants didn't look nearly as menacing as they did last night.
"I want to show you something." Ivy said. "It will help you when you're in the bank."
"A machine gun?" Selina asked.
"Better." Ivy said with a smile.
She held up a canister that looked like a smoke grenade.
"My very own blend. Taken from the subtropic Larien Flower. Very little is know about it, so I suggest you wear a gas mask when you deploy it in the bank. It will dissipate in roughly thirty seconds, but the damage I've seen it do is impressive once it's entered the lungs."
"What does it do?" Selina asked skeptically.
"Don't worry about that. It will save your life if you're discovered." Ivy pointed out. "I've obtained the blueprints for the Old Gotham Prime Bank. Much of the building has been changed, so you my have to wing it."
Selina looked around the greenhouse. She hadn't see Fish that morning yet.
"Ivy, lets get out of here. Lets just go." Selina whispered.
Ivy looked slightly offended.
"Go?" she questioned. "Why would I leave? I'm home now. Can't you understand that? Fish took me in when I had nothing. She made me stronger, better than I could ever hope to be. If she needs my help, then I'll do it."
"Ivy, what did she do to you?" Selina asked.
Ivy gave her a cold, unflinching stare.
"Fish gave me a way to never be a victim again." Ivy told her.
~ Harvey Dent enjoyed dinners at the Fox Run. It was an exclusive club for the well connected men of Gotham. The young DA had high aspirations for himself. He had always held himself to a higher calling in life. He wouldn't stop with just District Attorney. He would eventually run for mayor, then Governor or maybe a senator. There was no limit to how far he could climb. He was still young, smart, articulate and it didn't hurt he was handsome.
So why was his love life always in shambles?
He sipped his red whine and cut into the beef stake that was too well cooked. He knew the answer. He had a temper when it came to certain things. Women sensed it, and they stayed away. Gordon had even called him spineless once. Harvey had decked the detective for it and earned a black eye and a broken tooth in return. He and Gordon were still friends though. What an odd world Gotham could be.
He knew the nickname the assholes in Major Crimes called him. How he assured those battle hardened detectives a conviction, only to settle on a lesser charge to avoid a trial. They didn't understand how court systems worked. How much money it costs to prosecute a criminal. It wasn't like these scum bags were confessing to their crimes of murder and drug trafficking. It takes a lot of work to make a case.
So Harvey Dent had to pick his battles. He made the mistake of promising too much. But that was life. So what if those detectives at Major Crimes called him Harvey 'Two Faced' Dent? It wasn't their call to make.
"Harvey?" came a friendly voice.
Harvey looked up and was shocked to see Bruce Wayne of all people at the Fox Run.
"Harvey Dent?" Bruce asked again and shook his hand.
Harvey was quick to swallow what he was chewing and stood to shake Bruce Wayne's hand.
"Yes, Mr. Wayne." Harvey said quickly. "So nice to see you again."
"Likewise." Bruce said cheerfully. "May I join you?"
Harvey, still surprised to see billionaire Bruce Wayne appearing so suddenly, waved at an open chair.
"Of course. I didn't know you were a member here." Harvey said.
"I should hope I'm a member." Bruce chuckled. "My grandfather started this club and I own the building."
"Right." Harvey said. "Just, I never see you here."
"I'm a bit of a home body." Bruce told him. "Tell me, how is Selina Kyle working out?"
Harvey was instantly transported back to seeing the lovely Miss Kyle at work.
"Well, great I suppose. She works in the file room. I really don't see her."
"Are you two dating?" Bruce asked skeptically.
Harvey leaned away. He had to be careful with his reply. For all he knew, Bruce Wayne was secretly dating Miss Kyle. Maybe they were an item and that pretty blond reporter was just something for the papers. On the other hand, maybe they used to be a couple and Mr Wayne was just territorial about who his exes dated after him. If he laughed and said no, Wayne might be insulted that he wasn't interested in Selina at all.
"No. We're not dating." Harvey said. "She works for my office. I don't think that would be appropriate."
"The reason I ask is that she has my number and it would seem she accidentally called me the other night." Bruce said casually.
"Oh?" Harvey asked.
"Yes, it seems she thought she was calling you and relayed that she wouldn't be able to join you here at the Fox Run for dinner." Bruce said.
Harvey couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"Well, I don't know what she could have meant." he said. He hoped it sounded like he was't lying. "Fox Run doesn't allow women in. It's a private men's club. Members only."
"Yes, I'm aware of the rules, Mr. Dent." Wayne said curtly. "Has she been in to work the past few days?"
"I haven't seen her." Harvey said clearing his throat. "I swear I never invited her to the Fox Run. I mean, I've asked her out a few times, but she always shoots me down." he explained quickly.
Bruce smiled an easy, self confidant smile.
"It's fine Harvey. Can you do me a favor? Call me when you get back to the office and tell me if Selina is at work today. I haven't seen her in a while. I worry." he said.
"Are you two an item?" Harvey asked jokingly.
Wayne's face turned to stone. Harvey knew enough about the elusive young man to know that if he didn't like you, your career in Gotham was over.
"I mean, that's none of my business." Harvey said quickly.
Bruce pulled out a business card out of his breast pocket. Harvey couldn't help but notice how expensive his suit was. How Wayne wore it was such ease.
"Call me when you can. That's my personal cell phone number. Please don't give it out." Bruce said solemnly.
Harvey nodded awkwardly as Bruce stood up to leave.