Chapter 5 - The Night of the Ball
Selina and Holly looked like stars. They were sleek and sexy; Selina- who wore a long black gown that v-shaped down to the small of her back, and Holly who fashioned a little red dress that only went down to her mid thigh. Selina knew that they owned the night compared to the others around them. With grace and poinse they made their way to the front doors to check in.
Hues of gold and blue were flashing against the walls. People were in classy dresses and mingling with obviously well known people from around Gotham. This included the dapper Mr. Wayne. He was chatting it up with other men in suits, however, all Selina cared about was the different "friends" she could engage for later late-night investments. She nodded at Holly who knew the "look" better than anyone. It was time to be friendly.
No one really knew who worked the front desk at this lavish place. They just knew Selina was ravishing and charming to a fault. Men and women laughed with her, kissed her cheeks, and to those who didn't know Selina would think that she had a lot of friends. This wasn't the case. This was how Selina worked out of her suit. This was the game she played and she had trained Holly to do it as well. Together they were quite the team.
On the other side of the room, Bruce was discussing affairs with other business owners and people he could later make deals with. Nothing also went unnoticed as when he glanced from his drink he managed to see Holly walk in with her room-mate. This didn't surprise him, but he cracked a small smile in mid conversation. Only he was aware of it though. Something about the dark haired woman was familiar and not just because he had saved her life, but something else drew him to her; fueled his curiosity.
A few drinks in, and Holly was flirting and daringly, coming out of her shell more. She was the more shy one of the two and it showed a little – except when there was alcohol in her system. With the intoxication she felt more free to express herself. In mid conversation with Holly and a few very flirtatious gentlemen, she excused herself to the powder room. After going in, she took a deep breath and fixed her dress so that there was a bit more room to breathe. Under her gown was a knife strapped to her inner thigh. On the other leg were a few stun pellets because why not? With the interesting turn of events Selina didn't know what to expect or where to expect it but she knew how to adapt. After coming out of the ladies room a man stopped her.
"Good evening." It was Bruce Wayne. That handsome devil, Selina thought.
"Well, well…" she glanced him over putting a hand on her hip, "looking very… stunning Mr. Wayne. That is who you are, correct?" She knew who he was, but she wanted him to tell her. It was part of her game.
He chuckled and looked down, a glimpse of a smile crossed his face, "I have to look my best at these events, of which I'm not exactly sure which one I'm supporting…?" He smiled again. He knew. Now they were both playing the game.
"Well, one can only imaging how many of these things you must attend, Mr. Wayne. You're a very popular gentleman."
"I am because I have to be." That was a bold statement and not at all humble – perfect thing to come out of the most non-eligible bachelor in Gotham. "Say, that's your friend out there, right?" He motioned to the blonde in the red dress.
Selina could feel the questions coming and that's not what she needed, "Hmm… perhaps. She's a cutie," she said then winked at Bruce.
"Ah!" A laugh bellowed a little in the hallway they were in, "she seems like a very nice girl."
"Not your type, Mr. Wayne?" Selina turned it back on him in hopes he would take the small amount of bait that she threw.
He looked at her in her eyes and for a moment he could see her without the armor – not exactly something he saw in a lot of women. He kept himself distant and more or less cold. He didn't need another attachment or heartbreak in his life, there was enough of that surrounding him already.
Out of nowhere a gunshot was fired in the lobby. The sound made Bruce turn quickly and when he looked back for Selina – she was gone. Bruce quickly hid behind a wall not far from the restrooms and got a glimpse of who was causing the commotion. It was a group of men in suits who looked like the mafia – it was Richie Vasquez. Bruce recognized him from the wanted file on his computer.
"Bruce Wayne!" Vasquez yelled. "I know you're in here – let's make this clean and easy and why don't you come out so we can have a short talk, alright?" he was smiling at this point and holding his gun in the air, waving it around. The look of horror on the guest's faces was enough for Bruce to come out. He did so very slowly.
"And who am I speaking with?" He extended his hand after pulling his suit down and brushing off his pants.
Vasquez had a long mark on his left cheek. It hadn't healed right and it looked like a huge claw had taken out a piece of his face. The corner of his lip curved a little as he watched Bruce extend his hand. "Mr. Bruce Wayne. What a pleasure." Giving a subtle strong shake, he motioned for his thugs to put their guns down. But just as he had extended his hand did he then raise his gun and shoot it at an older man standing across from the bar. The man fell dead.
"Now Mr. Wayne. Can we get some privacy?" Bruce lost his charm and out of the corner of his eye he could see the fear rise in people. "Everyone OUT now!" he shouted at the guests.
Vasquez and his men just watched as the people left – Holly was among them, crying and looking for Selina who still wasn't anywhere to be found. She only hoped that she would come and do something to ease the situation.
"Thank you Mr. Wayne. Now, I need your help with something. Could it be that the richest man in the city knows anything about this woman who keeps prowling the streets?" As he said this one of his men came around and put a gun to his head.
"I run a multi-million dollar company – I'm not a babysitter for the vigilantes in this town." His smooth voice was back. He slowly put his hands behind his back, cupping them.
"My men say otherwise. Who were you talking to earlier?" Vasquez knew who Selina was and followed her here. Bruce felt a sudden sense of worry enter him.
"Which girl? There were a lot of girls here before you chased them all away." Bruce winked at him and staggered a little bit as if he were feeling the alcohol he had.
Selina had darted so quickly and quietly out from under Bruce's nose that he didn't even know she had gone. It was getting to dangerous for her to be at the party and when she heard the gunshots she knew. The roof was always going to be a safe haven for her, and lucky for her the skylight from the ballroom made for a perfect perch. She peered down, and cut her dress. "Well, I didn't really like this anyway." She made the slit in the leg bigger and replicated it on the other side. Then she tore off the flaps. Now the nice gown was more maneuverable and comfortable. She ditched the heels and glided over to the latch in the skylight. She could see Bruce and Richie Vasquez talking and she knew he was stalling.
Quickly, she threw two of the three smoke pellets down below. Bruce darted behind the bar and was safe for now. She dashed down the fire escape and entered the building the same way she left – through a window. She could hear some gun shots being fired and sirens were in the distance. Bruce might have been okay but she didn't want to risk it…because after all, he saved her life.
Selina entered the ballroom. She stayed low to the ground and started prowling – avoiding bullets that were flying by her. The bar was a lot farther than she expected. As she dodged objects and gun-fire, she was tackled by a heavier man. He squeezed her arms to her sized and that's when she could feel her wound starting to pulse. "Shit…. Not now." Her instincts kicked in and used her legs to smash his feet. He released the pressure on her arms and that's when she flew around him and got on his shoulders. Grabbing the knife on her thigh, she stabbed him in the collarbone. As they toppled over, she could hear Bruce punching someone. She managed to get up but felt something wet on her side. Blood.
Bruce could see the estranged woman grab the larger man and bring him down but his focus immediately went to Vasquez who at this point was the last man standing. Punch after punch and Bruce finally knocked him out. The sirens and lights were getting closer – what a relief. The place was trashed. Only a few lives had been lost and ultimately, Richie Vasquez was going to be available for questioning.
Selina saw officers slowly make their way through the smog – that was her cue to bold, however difficult it may be. She put pressure on the opened wound and started running. Bruce however, was not about to let that happen as he went after her. Chasing up the stairs and almost to the window, which would have allowed for her escape she fell to her knees. Her battle scar from the other encounter was bleeding more now and the pain was too much. Bruce caught up with her, finally.
"You need to stop, Selina."
She couldn't turn around without wincing. But she was horrified and embarrassed. Vulnerable. "I need to leave. Please just let me go." 'Why am I pleading with him?' She thought.
He moved a little closer to her. Her head met the middle of his abdomen… getting a closer look he saw the blood. "Come with me. We can get this fixed up."
She used her other hand to support her stance and very slowly, she turned around. This had probably been the worst luck Selina Kyle had experienced in a long time. She was pale and bruised. Not only was her wound open and probably infected, all of the protection her suit offered her in every other battle was not here. They were both dirty and at the end of it, human.
Bruce quickly put his arms around her and scooped her up. The cops were now checking the premises and Bruce knew they would want to ask her questions – not before he did. He carried her into a billiard room and pushed back a book. On the other side of the bookshelf was a hallway and Alfred was already waiting.
"Alfred I need you to take her and get her on some medicine. Give her an IV drip with hydrocodone for the pain. I'll be in there shortly."
"Yes, master Wayne." With that order, Alfred gently grabbed Selina from Bruce and carried her away. She was long passed out – it was better that way.