Thanks for the reviews guys. Here's a quicker update for that. Sorry about my spelling, my beta right now is busy at the moment. So I will really really try to at least spell things right. The exciting part is towards the end sorry about that.
Chapter 2. Crashing Warning
"I know this information will change everything.
Everything we have done and everything
we are about to do,"- Insurgent by Veronica Roth
A couple years later
"Shit," Selina cursed, as she snatched the lipstick that fell down the sink. She smiled after having caught it in an extreme reflex. Years have passed, but her skills remain enacted even after all that's happen.
Adjustment. It did in fact take her years to take her life now for granted. She stares at herself in the mirror, as she tidied her long silk dress. She grins at her reflection at the same moment realizing how much has changed since she first moved here. She was no longer a thief, but sometimes she would still get the urge of just maybe snatching something. What can she say, old habits die very hard. She was very content now. No longer the same girl, or woman who had suffered so young to survive. Indeed now she saw herself as that...a survivor. She felt the hole that had been in her heart filled. There's time when she wants to leave, just to see how much it would feel if she was alone again.
She located the necklace from the drawer. It was a special occasion tonight. She always wore the necklace constantly. She admired them too much to not wear them often.
She places them around her neck.
"Mrs. Wayne?" Alfred voice came from behind the door, followed by a gentle knock.
"What is it Alfred?" Selina asks, tentatively smearing light pink lipstick on her lips.
"We're all waiting for you Mrs. Wayne," he informed.
"I'll be right there," Selina responded as she finished arranging herself.
She took a couple minutes more, then left the bathroom just as the doorknob open an Bruce appeared.
"I came to check what was taking you too long," he murmured, now praising the woman in front of him.
Selina contain a roll of her eyes. "It's not like I'll trip and die in the bathroom Bruce, you're still as paranoid as the day I met you," her lips curl into a gentle smile.
Bruce just watched her. "You haven't been yourself lately," he spoke what he already knew. It was only last week when Selina had come home all thoughtful from a small job she took down the corner. She's been quieter than usual. Bruce had noticed immediately, but he already was accustomed to sudden mood changes in Selina, he was quite of fast mood changer himself. Yet Selina usually came out of it. It was time to confront her, now that they were alone. "What's bothering you?" he finally asks what he had been holding in for the whole week.
Bruce knew Selina too well to be fooled by the fake smile she played right now.
"Nothing is wrong," she replied, edging her way out the bathroom door.
"Selina..-," Bruce insisted following her.
Selina sighed when she felt Bruce strong grip on her wrist. She could break free, but she had been holding this in for so long. She needed to let it go. "I got a message last week...it's from a close friend of mine. Her name is Holly, but I call her Jen. She send me a message saying ' this is what we wanted remember? It's back' last weekend," Selina explained "I haven't talk to her for years. Not since we left Gotham...yet when I texted her back saying " what's back?" she didn't answer and when I tried calling her cell it said it was an unavailable number."
Ever since that message there was a sense of anxiety in Selina. Sure she would try hard to bring it down, but it would always crawl back. She hadn't had a feeling like this since...Bane. A shiver went down her spine remembering.
Bruce eyebrows crossed. "It could mean anything. It could even be a prank. Look that life is over now. Gotham is fine. Blake is doing a good job so far. We have been happy for how long now...years. That life won't find us here," he assured her.
Selina nodded, though she didn't quite feel content about it. True, they had lived together for years without anything happening. Why did it have to end now? She linked her arm next to Bruce forcing the deep end of her uneasiness down. She wanted to believe she was safe, that if she were to die now. She wouldn't regret the last moment of her life.
"Our lives as Batman or Catwoman are over Selina. This is our life now," Bruce assured her once again, like he has done so often during the years.
" Let's go then handsome," her smile spread. "After all we are 20 minutes late."
Two voices calling out from down the stairs eased their hearts from all worries.
Blake was patrolling the city, in case any crook wanted to plan something tonight he was ready. He glances around Gotham's illuminating eerie city. He sat down, no way was there anything happening tonight. It's been quiet for a couple of what...months now? A couple crooks here and there. No major villains appearing. He sighed sitting down. He passed a hand through his hair. He never like wearing the Batman cowl, it just that that mask seem to belong to Bruce and whenever he wore it just felt like it didn't belong to him. Instead he prefers to use a simple mask. Of course, maybe people knew he wasn't truly Batman. Well what do you expect, only Batman could truly be Batman. Blake was something else.
He stood like that for a while until Gordon voice came up behind him.
"Nothing's better than to sit and wait for things to go worse again huh Blake," Officer Gordon was among the first who found out what became of John Blake.
Blake nodded . "Nothing like the old times- maybe crime will finally stop and find a new place to go. It's been nearly 7 years since anything bad has really happen," Blake sighed.
"There's always going to be a bigger storm Blake, don't let the peace fool you,"
"Any reports on the missing Biochemist?" Blake asks.
Gordon shook his head. "She's been missing for 18 months now. No one has seen her or heard of her, she might be dead by now,"
Blake nodded. Pamela had last been seen in her laboratory about a year ago. Every cop in the city has tried finding her, but no one has succeeded on her whereabouts.
The door suddenly burst open. A red hair/brunette marched in. "Dad there's something happening down at the Arkham Asylum. It's-," she stopped in her tracks taking in that Gordon was talking to...Batman? Without the cowl but with a mask?
"What's happening?" Gordon demanded now, a chill going down his spine.
"Dr. Harleen Quinzel has been kidnapped and...the Joker. He has escaped the Asylum," Barbara told her father as calmly as she could. Yet she could register the fear that crossed all their faces at the mention of the Joker.
"Escape?! How!" Gordon demanded.
Gordon, Blake, and Barbara rushed towards the scene. Cops were already outside, along with a couple of local media.
"Commissioner are the rumors true. Has the Joker escape from Asylum?" a middle aged woman asks.
"No confirmation of that yet," Gordon replied gruffly already going inside.
His daughter stood by his side as he went in. Blake came in from the window. They stop in their tracks finding exactly all the conformity they needed that this was real. In the wall was sprayed in red scrawl letters
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA- I'm back
"What does this mean?" Blake asks.
"It means something bad is about the happen. Something really bad," Gordon looked over at Blake. "I hope you're ready."
Bruce and Selina were enjoying their dinner down at the restaurant. Alfred was as always trying to give them as much privacy as possible. They laughed just like any regular night in their lives. It did seem like things could never get worse from here, only better...
"What are they doing?" A cheeky boy of 7 years old, with brown locks and deep eyes asks.
Bruce and Selina turned to see what the boy meant. There were people dancing in the dance floor, in a very slow almost calm dance that made the restaurant look more like a private ball.
"Dancing," Bruce answered his son.
"How come I never see you guys dancing?" Thomas asks, he reflected more of his father's serious expressions and his good inventive handiwork. Yet he got his teasing habit from his mother.
Thomas grins at his parents. At age 7 his features were remarkably alike from when Bruce lost his parents.
"That's because your father is always complaining about his leg, when he knows I'm a better dancer and is just afraid to keep up with me," Selina replied, popping a cherry into her mouth with a peek at Bruce.
Selina was satisfied so see a spark light up in Bruce. '' Keep up with you? I think I do a better job at that," he replied smoothly.
"Oh yeah?" Selina challenged.
" I want to see you dance too. Mommy, Dad can I see that," a chirpier voice chided in.
Helena Wayne was Thomas's twin sister born only 2 minutes later. She had taken in her mother's eyes, but Bruce's dark hair. Her hair ran down to her shoulders with such beautiful curls. She was definitely more adventurous and curious than her brother. She was impulsive and well pretty much a baby kitten to the mother cat.
"Let's see how you can keep up with me old man, let's dance," Selina placed her cup down.
Bruce met her challenge, standing up they went to the dance floor. Placing a hand on each other they began to step in with the rhythm of the song. As if fate would have it the song that started playing in the background was the one played long ago when Bruce and Selina first dance. Their chemistry together was undeniable, every person around wouldn't bother intruding either of them as they spiral in the dance floor.
'' Who would've thought," Selina whispered looking passed Bruce for a while at their two children.
Pfft. If someone had told Selina that she would be married and well let's face it have children she would've laughed in their faces. In fact the moment she was pregnant she couldn't even believe it. After the doctors explain Selina was carrying a child she practically went on denial, even more than Bruce. The shock on his face only lasted a couple of days, it took months for Selina to finally confirm it. The months following after that we're crazy. She never remembered craving so much that she would end up emotional for no reason. She was pretty much thankful when at last the two were born. Now, looking at them she could feel pride building in her. These two were her kids. Thomas (name after Bruce's father) and Helena (just because Selina like the name). They were their kids.
She focused her attention back to Bruce. "I never would've," he replied quietly, his eyes praising her. She glances up and grins. "I keep telling you we're both suckers," she replies her pink lips coming towards him, they reach him and the feeling of completeness is back. All they ever wanted was being together. He brings her closer, deepening the kiss.
Thomas and Helena Wayne make faces of both disgust and glee.
When they pulled apart something changed. Selina eyes caught on someone in the corner with a small gun on her hand, her attention drawn towards the woman.
Selina narrowed her eyes. The woman smile back at her and at that moment the woman shot. Impulse took over. Selina pulled Bruce down as a bullet swooped pass. Bruce realizing he heard a gunshots turn to see who shot, but by then there were another 2 who started shooting. Bruce didn't hesitate, he grip tightly to Selina hand and they both made a dash towards coverage. Thomas and Helena bend down, smart enough to take cover.
"Alfred take the kids out of here," he firmly told his butler who nodded seriously.
Fear started to settle in Bruce. His family was here. Selina, Alfred, Thomas, and Helena. He needed to get them out. The thought of something happening to any of them send him on edge. Bruce saw Thomas and Helena both with large frightened eyes as Alfred tried getting them away.
Someone shot above Selina and Bruce. They both crawled to the next bend over table for coverage.
"Those idiots, who do they think they are," Selina said smoothing her dress down. She was prepared to fight, her defenses instantly went up. Selina pulled a gun out hidden in her dress. Bruce started giving her a look. "What? A girl has to be prepared," she replied.
"Go for the exit right now," he ordered instead, maybe leaving right now would be the best. After all he wasn't Batman anymore.
Selina expression hardened. "And leave all the fun to you," she responded evenly.
"Selina this isn't a game," he replied harsher.
...-all of sudden the gunshots stopped entirely. Bruce and Selina both stood up, alert.
Bruce blood had frozen. Where was Alfred? Did he managed to leave with the kids? Bruce stepped out from the table, something landing on his foot. He felt all his body become stone.
"Bruce?" Selina came from behind, alarmed by the expression on Bruce's face.
Bruce bends down to pick up the card that lay on the floor. The Joker's card
"Mommy! Mommy! "
"Helena?" Selina went looking for her, she found her running towards her.
Tears in her eyes she sprang towards Selina's arm. "Are you okay?" Selina begins checking her over.
"Mommy...they shot Alfred...and...T-Thomas they took him," Helena let out.
Bruce dropped the card he was holding as he heard this. His whole soul screamed at that moment...NO!
Selina brought the girl face to her chest. Her heart beating painfully loud, terrified. She never remember feeling so terrified before...-she could hardly breathe controllably. She steadied her breathing looking as tough as possible as Bruce ran outside. Their worst fears coming true when they spotted Alfred on the floor bleeding and Thomas Wayne...missing with a piece of paper right on Alfred hands which he stuck painfully to his jacket.
"I tried to stop them- I'm sorry Mr. Wayne-," Alfred eyes closed.
At the hospital in Florence, Italy laid Alfred just recovering from the injuries. Both Selina and Bruce were on the deep edge. Bruce was sitting in the couch, his hands balled into fists. He felt so much anger right now, he knew it radiated off his body. Selina on the other hand was ready to go search for her son at that very moment, if it wasn't for the girl who still cling in her arms she would've done something reckless right now.
"What's on Alfred coat?" Selina suddenly realize a paper still sticking out.
Bruce retrieve it, it was sprained in blood.
This is your warning...- you want your son safely back come and get him Bruce Wayne-
Bruce hands crunched the paper. "He knows who I am," he replied.
Selina held back a cursed. She took a deep breath.
"I have to go to Gotham, there is where they'll head-," Bruce grabbed his coat as if he was ready to leave this instance.
Selina put Helena aside for a moment. "I'm not going to sit behind worrying myself, I'm coming with you," she narrowed her eyes.
"No!" Bruce snapped, sounding very similar to his Batman growl.
"Thomas is my son too! I'm sorry to disappoint you but I am not going to freaking stay here like some stupid-ass waiting for news. You're not the boss of me," she snapped back.
"Someone has to stay behind to protect Helena," Bruce pointed out coming in front of Selina.
"It's safer if she's with us! If she's with us we can protect her and Alfred! We all have to return to Gotham. I told you once that we would return, all of us," she didn't take a step back, instead she moved forward. She was facing him with deep brown eyes.
"This is the Joker we're talking about, he's-"
"I know who he is, "Selina snapped in return, the reason it was the Joker is why she was so determined to get Thomas back. She knew Bane was her greatest fear, but the Joker was always something else. Bane she could at least try to fight, but the Joker messed with your mind. She remembered seeing the cruelty of the Joker years before Bane came into place.
"Then there's no more explaining, you have to stay Selina,"
Selina took a step back. Her arms crossed. "What makes you think he isn't working with someone else?" she questioned.
Bruce remains silent. With the Joker he just didn't know. They remain quiet. Bruce and Selina staring at each other, just waiting.
"You can't keep a cat inside a bag for long Bruce," Selina told him a while later, when Helena had crawled her way towards Bruce's arms.
"We leave tomorrow...at dawn," Bruce finally responded, no use in trying to persuade Selina to stay. She would go anyway. Selina nodded glancing at Alfred. He would be better by tomorrow. Even with his old age he was remarkably still healthy.
Gotham, Bruce thought a while later. He couldn't believe he was going back...after so long. The Joker had his son, knowing the Joker he would wait until Batman appeared before doing anything to Thomas.
At a glance, he could tell Selina was freaking out. He could feel it himself as she paced around. He's watched her for years now, so he knew how well she hid tears from him. Like right now. He knew she would wait until everyone was either asleep or when she thought no one was there for the tears to fall. He sighed, closing his eyes he focused on Helena, who was sleeping now. He was terrified for Thomas. He only hoped that he would find him alive.
Selina sat down next to him, her fingers digging into her skin as she crossed her arms.
"We'll find him," Bruce reassured Selina, that was an easy promise. Yes of course they'd find him even if they had to die trying to find him. They will. Selina only nodded, holding back tears. She gripped Bruce's arm only for the simple reason that if Bruce wanted to leave, she would wake her up at his movements.
"So I guess this is the storm coming again," Selina whispered, thinking of what Holly had sent. A big storm was coming and she was not looking forward to it. She couldn't hide the feeling that maybe it wasn't just about Batman. Maybe more people are involved. Thomas was just a key-Thomas...Selina closed her eyes, silent tears coming down her eyes. Quiet ones that no one saw except maybe Bruce because he knew her so well.
From the distance, smiled a bandage covered men. He send a message to " Mister J" as his new girlfriend would call him.
The real Batman will come back soon
a moment later a reply came.
Let the fun begin
So I decided to add two kids instead of one. Thomas is OC, but I took the name Helena from Earth-Two from a batman AU who in reality was Batman and Catwoman's daughter. Anywho, as you can see it's not just one main villain I'm putting. I hope to catch all so very soon. Oh one last thing I got the name for this title from the song Breath of Life by Florence and Machine, I alternated the title for symbolism of a fire rising. Please be kind enough to review :)