"You know cats were considered sacred in ancient Egypt," said Selina Kyle, gazing at the statue of Bast, the cat-headed goddess. "No wonder their empire lasted such a long time – they were clearly people with the right idea."

She grinned at Bruce Wayne, who didn't appear to be listening. Selina's face fell. "Bruce?" she asked. "You ok?"

"Hmm? Oh yeah, fine, Selina," he murmured, shaking his head. "Just thinking."

"About what?" she asked.

"I haven't heard from Dick today. That's all," he said quietly.

"Bruce, don't forget, it's like 7 hours earlier in the States," said Selina. "He's probably still asleep."

"Yeah, probably," agreed Bruce. "I'm sorry, Selina, I shouldn't be worrying like this. I just can't help it, y'know?"

"Yeah, I know. Look, obviously this place isn't holding your interest, so maybe we should go somewhere else. Check out the pyramids, or…y'know…head back to the hotel," she murmured, kissing him gently.

"Sounds good to me," murmured Bruce, smiling and taking her hand. She smiled back and pulled him toward the exit.

"Selina…wait," he whispered, pulling her back.

"Something wrong?" she asked.

"No. But there's gonna be cameras out there, probably following us all the way back to the hotel."

"You're surprised by that?" she asked, grinning. "I'd have thought you'd be used to it by now. And you can't really expect the paparazzi to resist chasing after Gotham's premiere power couple. We're like catnip to them."

"I don't mind facing them, I just wanted to say something before we do," he murmured, stroking her hair back from her face.

"What?" she asked, puzzled.

"I…I think I…love you," he whispered.

She grinned. "You think?" she repeated. "Well, it's not the nicest thing anyone's ever said to me, Bruce, but then it's not the worst either."

"I mean it," he said.

"You mean that you think that you love me?" she asked, smiling.

"I mean that I love you," he said firmly, gazing at her.

She beamed. "Well, that's more like it," she whispered, kissing him again. "I love you too, Bruce. You know out here, like this, away from Gotham and all its madness, I've actually let myself hope that we can somehow build a life together. If you're willing to let all that go, of course."

Bruce was silent. "I'm gonna need some time, Selina…" he began.

"No rush," she interrupted. "We're gonna take everything nice and slow, Bruce. I think we're worth that."

He kissed her tenderly and they walked out of the tomb together, hand in hand, to be greeted by a swarm of photographers. That didn't seem to matter to either of them – they barely noticed them on the journey back to the hotel. And when they entered their room and shut the door, they shut out the paparazzi with them. And then it seemed like there was only the two of them left in the world, which suited them both fine.

"Just gonna give Dick a quick call," said Bruce, drawing away from Selina gently. "Why don't you go slip into something more comfortable?"

"Bruce, I don't have kids," murmured Selina.

"Yeah…I know," he replied, puzzled.

"So I don't wanna have to keep checking up on the kids. Put the phone away," she said, kissing him. "And pay attention to the cat who's got your tongue."

Bruce returned the kiss, throwing the phone onto the nightstand and pressing her down on the bed. Suddenly, the phone rang. "Ignore it," murmured Selina, pulling him down to her.

"Hang on, it's Dick," he said, gently disentangling himself from her embrace. "I'll just take it quickly."

"Hope that's not how you're gonna take me," muttered Selina, sitting up in annoyance as Bruce answered the phone.

"Hello?" he said.

"Hi Batsy! It's me!" chuckled a terrible voice, a voice Bruce knew. A voice which brought back all the stress and tension and anxiety that he had lost around Selina. And fear, as he realized that Joker must be calling him from Dick's cell phone. Which could only mean Dick was in trouble.

"How did you get this number?" he hissed.

"A little birdie told me," giggled Joker. "He also told me you were taking a little break from the whole Batman gig, which I was really disappointed to hear. I mean, why didn't you tell me first? I think I deserve to know, after all we've been through together, and after all we've meant to each other. Anyway, how're you holding up, buddy? I heard about Kitty and Brucie, that must be tough for you. You feeling ok?"

"Where is Robin?" he demanded.

"Harley's looking after him," he replied. "And you know how sweet and motherly she is. You ain't got nothing to worry about, Bats, though I was surprised you let him out on his own, what with all the weirdos and the crazies around. But he's in safe hands now, never fear."

"If you hurt him…"

"Oh, I wouldn't do that, Bats!" he chuckled. "Well, I suppose I might, if I get bored. Y'know, if I don't have anything else to do to occupy my time. And it does get so boring when you're not around. I might have to find a hobby. I remember torture being pretty fun…I'm on the phone, Harley!" he shouted suddenly, as Bruce heard Harley's voice calling him. "So shut your goddamn face, would ya? Sorry about that, Bats. Women, eh? Can't live with 'em, can't live without 'em, although I'll guess you'll have to try since Brucie's stolen your gal!" He laughed. "Look, I know you've been having a hard time lately. And maybe I've been a little too rough on you, taunting you about Kitty and stuff, but if it helps, I'm sorry. Can we be BFFs again?"

"Tell me what you want," hissed Bruce.

"What I want? Well, I want you to come back. You just gotta come back, Bats, I miss you! And so does Harley. And Birdie Boy. Course he'll be missing a few other things too if you don't come rescue him, like his fingernails and his eyes and his skin…"

"Mr. J!" came Harley's voice.

"I said I'm on the phone, you dumb broad! Beat it!"

"Who're you talking to?"

"Bats."

"I wanna talk to Bats!"

"Tough. You're supposed to be looking after the Boy Blunder, so get back to doing that."

"He's annoying, Mr. J. I wanna be with you."

"I said I'm talking to Bats!"

"And I said I wanna talk to Bats!"

There was a slight scuffle, and then Harley's voice came through loud and clear. "Hi, Bats! How're you doing? Selina's a real bitch, ain't she? I mean, for a cat. I always thought she …"

There was another scuffle, and some bangings, and Harley shrieking, and then Joker's voice came through again. "Sorry again, Bats, but you know you gotta be rough with dames or they'll leave you. Treat 'em mean and keep 'em keen, that's my motto. But I guess you didn't know that or you would still have your Kitty cat. Next time you see her, you should give her a real good beating. It'll make her come running back, I guarantee it."

"Joker, let Robin go now, or I will find you and and hurt you," hissed Bruce.

Joker giggled. "Yeah, why don't you come do that, Bats? Why don't you pick yourself up outta your cave and come find us? C'mon, it'll be good to get your mind off your troubles! You know, you're a lucky guy, really. When your personal life goes downhill, at least you've always got your career to fall back on. And we'll always be there for you, through thick and thin, forever and ever and ever. Don't that make you wanna smile, Batsy?"

Bruce didn't respond. He couldn't. Fury choked the words in his throat, the words he wanted to shout at Joker – that he was Bruce Wayne, that for once in his life he was happy, and he deserved to be happy, and why was Joker so evil that he just couldn't leave him alone? He didn't want to be locked in this stupid, neverending cycle for the rest of his life. It would drive him mad, as mad as Joker. But maybe that was his plan all along. Maybe that was why Joker kept doing what he did – hoping that he would snap one day and prove Joker's point, that the world was chaos, and everyone in the world was on the funhouse slide into madness. It was ironic that if he kept fighting him, he might go insane and prove Joker's point. But if he didn't, if he let Joker roam free and wreak havoc and mayhem unchecked, he would also prove his point. Either way, Joker would win. And the thought made him furious.

Without another word, he smashed the phone on the ground. "Bruce, what is it?" asked Selina, rushing over to hug him.

He shoved her roughly away. "I'm sorry, Selina," he muttered, as she stared at him, shocked at his violence. "Just…just give me a minute."

He sat down on the bed, running his hands through his hair and trying to get his anger under control. "Joker's got Dick," he murmured at last. "I have to go back. I have to save him."

He stood up firmly in resolution and began packing. Selina still stared at him. "Bruce…" she began.

"I can't just ignore him," he interrupted. "I can't let Dick die. I don't have a choice, Selina. I have to go."

She nodded slowly. "You do have a choice, Bruce," she murmured. "Of course you have to go back and save Dick. But then come back here and never return there. Let somebody else handle crime in Gotham. Give someone else a chance to be the hero. You've done enough."

"I tried letting Dick do that, and look what happened," he muttered. He shook his head. "No, Selina, I'm the only one who can keep these people in line. They know that, and I know that, deep down. I can't escape it. I am Batman, and I always will be. If you love me, you have to love him too. Can you do that, Selina?"

He looked at her steadily and she looked back at him. "I don't know," she murmured. "I…I don't know, Bruce."

He nodded slowly. "Well, we'll talk about this later," he murmured, slamming his suitcase. "I need to borrow your phone to call Alfred and have him send the jet."

"Sure," said Selina, handing him her cell phone. She watched him as he talked on the phone. She did care about him, very deeply. But you couldn't build a life, a real life, with a man who always put murderers and psychopaths before you. A man who always chose someone else because he was so selfless that he sacrificed even his own happiness to do his duty. It was noble, but it made the people close to him feel worthless. Selina couldn't understand why women dreamed of dating heroes. They weren't good relationship material.

He hung up the phone and handed it back to her. "Thanks," he murmured. "I need to head to the airport – I'll see you around."

He turned to go but she caught his hand. "Bruce, when it's over…come back. For me."

She kissed him gently. He gazed back at her tenderly. "I can't promise that, Selina," he murmured. "But I do love you. I'm sorry I can't give you more than that."

He left the room with Selina staring after him.