What are regular twelve year-old boys supposed to do? It's hard to tell since that mostly depends on the kid's personality, but usually their activities involve playing with other children, kicking ball around, or even playing video games. They are not supposed to attend to fancy charity dinners, dressed in uncomfortable suits and muddling with people thrice their age. Normal twelve year-old boys shouldn't be doing such stuff.
Unfortunately, Bruce Wayne was anything but a normal twelve year-old boy.
Aside from the fact that he was a member of the Wayne family, one of the wealthiest (if not THE wealthiest) families in Gotham City, he was also currently the only member. Ever since his parents, Thomas and Martha Wayne, were murdered by a thief, Bruce had inherited his family's wealth. But what good are money to a child whos parents were killed right in front of him? And more importantly: What should he do with so much money?
His butler and guardian, Alfred, was trying his best to keep the young master away from the spotlight as much as possible, but sometimes that was not possible, such as tonight. Bruce was now attending to a charity dinner. He hated these things. He could barely understand what the adults were talking about, even though he was very mature and wise for his age. At least this dinner was for a good cause - gathering money for a new child hospital in Gotham.
''How are you holding up, Master Bruce?'' Alfred asked the young boy.
''Good, I guess...'' Bruce answered, not very certain. The dinner was hosted in Wayne manor and for Bruce, it was weird to have so many people in his home, even though this wasn't the first such event to happen in the manor.
''Is there anything I can do for you?'' asked Alfred. Right now, all Bruce wanted was to get out.
''Would you mind covering me for a little bit, Alfred?'' asked the boy ''I need to go out for some fresh air.''
''Certainly not, Master Bruce.'' answered the butler ''But you better taka a coat with you. It's a cold outside.''
Bruce smiled ''Don't worry, Alfred, I won't be out too long.'' and with that, he left the manor and went into the garden.
Alfred was right, it was cold and dark outside. Nothing unusual for Gotham at October. Despite the cold, Bruce inhaled some cool air. It was so refreshing. He had always loved the garden, especially at summer, when he and his mother would spent hours reading next to the sculpture of a woman, looking at the pond of the manor. It was his mom's favorite sculpture. She had once told him that it was made by Percy Wright, but Bruce had no idea who this man was. However, thinking about his mother made Bruce tear up. People say that you have to value the memories with those who have left you, but how are you supposed to value these memories if all they do is making you sad?
Bruce was snapped out of the thoughts about his mother by the sound of a window opening. He looked up at the second floor of the manor and noticed a black figure coming out from one of the windows. Bruce immediately realized it was a thief. It didn't seem like the criminal had noticed him yet, so the boy hid behind a nearby pot. The figure used the vines that were crawling alongside the manor's walls and within seconds, it was on the ground.
Now Bruce could see that the thief wasn't very tall. It didn't even look like an adult, it looked like a child. He couldn't tell if it was a boy or a girl, because they were wearing a mask, that only had two holes for eyes. They also had a bag on their back.
Bruce didn't know what to do. Should he call someone? Should he try to take the thief on his own? For some (most likely stupid) reason, Bruce decided to come out and try to talk with this person.
''Hey!'' he called out, which caused the figure to turn around ''What are you doing?''
''None of your business!'' the thief answered, with a voice that sounded like it belonged to a girl. Bruce, however, didn't have time to think about this, as the ''girl'' started running. Without thinking, Bruce started chasing the thief.
She was fast, but so was Bruce. The boy quickly caught up to the girl and grabbed her bag.
''HEY, LET GO!'' the girl yelled. She turned around and elbowed Bruce in the face. It wasn't a very strong hit, but it made the boy let go of the bag.
However, he had managed to open it, and now its content was on the ground. Among the gear any thief would have, Bruce spotted a familiar item. A necklace, but not just any necklace - it was one of his mother's.
''What are you doing with this?'' Bruce asked as he pointed at the jewel.
''I am stealing it, duh!'' the girl answered, obvious mockery in her voice.
''Well, I can't let you take it!'' the boy said firmly.
''Oh, come on, it's not like you are going to wear it.'' the girl-thief said ''Besides, if it's your mom's, I am sure she is not going to miss it. She can probably buy an even more beautiful one.''
The girl had touched a nerve, without even realizing it. Bruce's blood started boiling and he charged at thief, ready to punch her in the face. Unfortunately for him, she saw his attack coming from miles away and successfully evaded it.
''Too slow!'' the girl laughed, before driving her knee into Bruce's stomach. The pain caused him to fall on the ground.
''Better stay down, rich boy!'' the girl said while gathering her stuff from the ground.
But Bruce was not going to stay down. Despite the pain, he rose again and took a very unconvincing fighting position. This impressed the thief.
''Wow, you are tougher then you look!'' the girl laughed at Bruce. He ignored her and charged once again. The girl (again) evaded the attack and hit Bruce in the back with her elbow. But this time, the boy wasn't stopped by the pain, something the thief didn't see coming. With a swift move, Bruce punched the girl right in the face. She fell on the ground and started... crying?
''How could you!?'' she said between sobs ''That hurts!''
Bruce suddenly started feeling awful. He had always been told that it's not okay to hit girls, or anyone for that matter.
''I am sorry.'' he said and let his guard down. That was a mistake.
The next thing Bruce felt was pain, even worse then the previous ones. The girl had kicked him right in the genitals. He couldn't take it and balled up on the ground. Tears started coming out of his eyes. The girl's eyes, however, were as dry as a desert.
''Haha, can't believe you fell for the oldest trick in the book!'' the girl got up and opened her bag. She pulled the necklace out and smiled ''I am going to eat good tonight!''
With a simple ''Ta-ta!'' she started walking away from Bruce and towards the brick wall of the garden. Bruce couldn't do anything else except begging ''Please... don't take my mother's-''
''Again with this?'' the thief interrupted him ''I told you already: your mom can buy-''
''MY MOTHER IS DEAD!'' Bruce yelled, now completely in tears ''So please... don't take it...''
The girl stood completely still for a moment, before turning around and looking at Bruce. Despite the darkness, her green eyes locked with Bruce's blue once. After a few seconds, the girl threw the necklace at the boy, who looked at her with a complete disbelieve. Without a word, the thief turned back and run to the wall. Soon, she climbed it and jumped on the other side.
Bruce got up and took the necklace. He then looked at the wall. Another foolish idea had stricken him.
After some struggle, Bruce managed to climb the wall and jump on the other side. He looked at the road and saw the girl-thief walking not too far away.
''Hey, wait!'' Bruce yelled and started running after the girl (not an easy task, since he was still in pain from the kick.)
''What do you want?'' the girl face him ''I gave you your stupid necklace back!''
''I just wanted to thank you!'' Bruce said as he caught up to her.
The thief crossed her arms ''Well, you are welcome. Now beat it and leave me alone!'' she started walking away again.
''Actually, I want to thank you in a different way!'' said the Bruce.
''How?'' the girl asked, while still walking.
''By buying you a dinner.'' announced the boy. That got the thief's attention.
''Don't you think it's a little early for a first date?'' said the girl, which made Bruce blush.
''Tha-tha-that's not...what-'' the boy stuttered, but was interrupted by a girlish laughter.
''Calm down, rich boy,'' the girl laughed ''I was just kidding!''
Bruce got himself back together and said ''That's not what I meant. I heard you saying that you were going to eat good tonight, and since I took your money for dinner, I figured it's only fair if I buy you a dinner.''
The girl went from relaxed to angry in a split second ''Listen here, Richy Rich!'' she said angrily ''I may not wipe my ass with money like you do, but I am definitely not starve-'' at that moment, a loud rumble escaped from her stomach. She looked away from Bruce and covered her stomach with hands ''Though I can use a bite or two...''
The boy smiled ''Then let's go! Oh, I am Bruce, by the way.'' he stretched his hand for a shake.
The girl looked at him as if wondering if she could trust him. After a few seconds of silence, she took her mask off and revealed a young girl about Bruce's age, with long black hair and a very pretty face (according to Bruce.)
''Selina.'' said the girl as she shook Bruce's hand.
Аfter their official meeting, Bruce and Selina made their way to a nearby supermarket. Even though Bruce had insisted on taking Selina to a restaurant, she had said that she would rather have him buy her some food not just for tonight, but for a month ahead. Bruce didn't argue and went into the supermarket. Soon he returned, carrying five bags of food products.
''I think that should do it.'' he said to his companion.
"Definitely!'' Selina exclaimed as she eyed the bags. She then looked at a nearby apartment building ''Hey, the night's still young, wanna see something cool?''
Even thought Bruce didn't know what Selina had in store for him, he nodded. The girl smiled and gestured for the boy to follow her.
They arrived under the fire exit of the apartment building. With a surprising agility, Selina climbed on the exit and lowered the ladder for Bruce. After getting the bags on the stairs, the two made their way up the building, till they reached the top. The sight that revealed itself before them, left Bruce speechless.
He could see the entire island part of Gotham. The skyscrapers and busyness buildings were all glowing in golden, silver and blue. Among these buildings, was the one owned by ''Wayne enterprises'' . You could tell by the big ''W'' on it. Selina smiled at the boy's expression.
''Pretty good, huh?'' she asked.
''Yes.'' Bruce answered, still hypnotized.
After Bruce came out of his trance, he and Selina set on the edge of the building, their legs hanging. Selina pulled out two sandwiches out of one of the bags. Surprisingly for Bruce, she offered one of them to him. He took it and the two started eating, while watching the city.
''So how's the sandwich?'' asked Selina ''I know it's not some five star meal, but...''
''Just because I am rich, doesn't mean I don't like normal food.'' answered Bruce ''In fact, I really like pizza.''
Selina smiled ''Who doesn't? Wish I could eat more of it, though...''
A few seconds of silence followed and Bruce decided that it was time for him to ask the question that'd been bugging him ever since he had met Selina.
''So, if this isn't an uncomfortable question, why are you stealing?'' Bruce had a pretty good idea why, but he still needed to know for sure.
Selina was silent for an entire minute and Bruce was starting to worry that he had ruined his friendship (?) with her.
But then she said ''Becouse I have no other choice. With both my parents dead, I can't do anything else. Actually I do have other options, but they involve doing stuff I can't bring myself to do. Stealing from mostly rich people without hurting anyone is the best I can do.''
Bruce was shocked. Both of Selina's parents were dead. Was that the reason she had given him back the necklace, when he mentioned it was his mother's? He was also surprised by her statement that she only robbing rich people and was trying to not hurt anyone.
''I am sorry!'' the boy said and placed his hand on the girl's shoulder ''I know how hard it is, having both your parents dead I mean."
Selina looked at him ''What happened to your parents?''
Bruce was taken aback by this question, but he decided to answer ''It happened four years ago when I was eight. My parents took me to a movie called 'The mask of Zorro'. I really liked the movie and I was going on and on about how I am going to be Zorro when I grow up.'' Bruce chucked at that memory and so did Selina ''We took an alley as a short cut to our car... and then...'' tears started forming in Bruce's eyes ''A masked men jumped out of the shadows, holding a gun. He demanded my mother hand him her purse. My father stepped in to protect us... and then... then-''
"No need to go any further,'' Selina interrupted him ''I already know the ending.''
Bruce wiped the small tears that had left his eyes ''Let me guess: you saw it on the news.''
''Yes, I remember seeing it, but that's not the only reason.'' said Selina ''I've been on the streets long enough and have seen situations like this too many times to not know how they usually end.''
A new question came to Bruce ''How long have you been on the streets?''
After a silence that lasted a few moments, Selina answered ''Two years, ever since the drunk asshole that was my father killed himself with booz!''
A sadness overwhelmed Bruce. His father was taken from him in a heartbeat. He couldn't imagine how it felt to watch your father slowly killing himself ''I am sorry.'' he said.
''Don't be. I was happy when he died. I was finally free from him.'' the orphan girl responded coldly ''After what he did to me, my sister and especially to my mom, I couldn't wish him anything else but to burn in Hell!''
Bruce was shocked. Selina's father must have been a piece of work for his own daughter to wish him Hell. Bruce was also thinking about Selina's mother and sister.
But as if reading his mind, the girl said ''I suppose you are wondering about my sister and mother. I will keep it short: my sister is younger than me and is still alive. She was sent to an orphanage. As for my mother, the physical and emotional abuse she was taking from my father caused her to go crazy.'' Selina stopped and Bruce could now see that her eyes were glassy ''She eventually killed herself... I found her...''
Bruce didn't know what to say and for the next ten minutes, the two orphans set there, staring at the city.
Finally, Selina broke the silence ''You know, Gotham is so beautiful and shining when looked from afar, but ugly and dark when looked up close.''
Bruce looked at the ground ''I know.''
''No you don't.'' Selina said firmly ''What happened to your parents is barely the surface. I have seen horrible stuff: mobsters squeezing the last dollars from man with families to feed, homeless people dying from hunger and coldness on the streets, drug addicts selling the last thing they have only so they can continue poisoning themselves, women selling their bodies for scraps, raped teen girls, kicked out of home, doing the same to feed the children their rapists have left them. All I just listed and more is Gotham in its truest form.''
Of course, Bruce knew of the rotten side of Gotham, but he had never heard for it from someone who had seen it firsthand. In the end of the day, he was just another sheltered rich boy, living in his big, fancy manor while children like Selina had to turn to crime only so they can eat something. Bruce didn't want it to be this way. At that moment, he made a decision.
''I am going to fix this!'' he said.
''What was that?'' Selina asked.
''What you just listed, I am going to fix all of it!'' Bruce announced, only to receive a cold and cynical laughter from Selina.
''Yeah right! And what are you going to do, big guy, throw money at the problem and hope that it would go away?'' asked the girl, with cruel smile on her face.
''I am serious!'' said Bruce ''I have so much money. Once I am old enough, I am going to start fixing this city!''
''No offence, Bruce, but just because you think you are going to do it now doesn't mean you are going to do it or that you are going to succeed.'' said Selina ''Many have tried before, and all failed. Gotham is just cursed to be this way forever!''
Bruce knew that there was no way to convince someone who had seen so much horror, so he only said ''Still, I am going to try my best!''
Selina wasn't sure if he would keep to this promise or not. He seemed like any other rich boy, yet Selina could tell there was something different about him. She couldn't put her finger on it, though.
''You are something else, Bruce!'' said Selina.
''So are you, Selina!'' Bruce said in response.
The boy and the girl blushed and started looking at their feet.
''Sorry about kicking you in the balls.'' Selina suddenly said.
''It's fine.'' responded Bruce ''At least you taught me a lesson.''
After both finished their sandwiches, they returned on the street and Bruce handed Selina the bags with food. It was time for both of them to go.
"I am sorry I can't stay any longer. Alfred is probably very worried about me.'' Bruce apologized.
Selina smiled ''It's fine, we don't want to give your butler a heart attack, do we?''
Bruce smiled ''No, we don't.'' he was so happy that he had met Selina. Not only had she opened his eyes about the city, but had also showed him how lucky he was. And now he knew what to do with his wealth ''Goodbye Selina!'' he gave her a sad smile.
Selina returned sad smile. She was also sad to say goodbye to Bruce. There was something special abut him, she could tell. He definitely wasn't like the other rich people in the city. For the first time in her life, Selina allowed herself to hope for a better future ''Goodbye, Bruce!''
With sadness in their hearts, the two orphans took on their separate paths, knowing very well that this was the last time their ways would cross...
Twelve years later...
Bruce was jumping from a rooftop to a rooftop in his new suit. It was hard enough to do this even in regular clothing, let alone dressed in that heavy armor. It's been three months since he had started dressing up like a bat and going around the city, stopping crime. It was hard at first. Many people thought he was only stopping the criminals, because he was a criminal as well and just couldn't stand competition. But they were slowly starting to realize that he was on their side, which was making Bruce happy.
Dressing up wasn't Bruce's only good deed, though. He had just launched a campaign that involved building new and better common kitchens and shelters for the homeless, building new hospitals, founding the Gotham police and places such as Arkham asylum and Blackgate prison so the conditions in them would improve, and many other projects. It was a slow start, but it was a start. He had promised Selina that he would change Gotham for the better and he was keeping his promise.
Selina... Bruce hadn't seen her in twelve years, yet he often found himself thinking about her. Where was she now? Was she still a thief? Was she even alive? Those were some of the questions he had been asking himself for years.
He couldn't think about Selina now, though. He had work to do. Someone was robbing Gotham's history museum and Bruce was going to stop them. Soon he arrived at the museum and started looking around. He eventually found himself in the visiting Ancient Egypt exhibition. Bruce had a feeling the criminal was after an ancient golden statue with diamond eyes of the cat goddess Bastet. And his feeling was correct.
A thief was in the process of stealing the statue. The thief was a woman, dressed in a black leather suit that was showing all her curves. Her head was covered by a hood that had cat ears on it and her eyes were hidden behind red goggles. She was unlike any burglar Bruce had faced so far. He decided to use the element of surprise so he went into the shadows and started making his way to the woman.
''If you are going to sneak up on me, you would have to do better then this, hun.'' the woman suddenly said with a velvety voice. She turned to face Bruce ''Well, well, if it isn't the Batman himself! I was starting to think you were a legend.''
Batman... Bruce was still getting use to this name. He didn't have a name for himself because he didn't think it was necessary. But ever since ''Gotham times '' had called him with this name in one of their articles, everyone started calling him Batman. That was not important at the moment though.
Seeing how he had lost the element of surprise, Batman stepped out of the shadows ''Breaking into the museum is bad enough, but stealing a priceless artefact is even worse!'' he said in his gruff and husky voice ''Surrender now!''
''Wow, we know each other for a few seconds and you are already bossing me around!'' a smile appeared on the woman's red, glossy lips ''Some gentleman you are!''
''I don't discriminate on any bases,'' Bruce looked at the cat ears the woman had on her head ''Catwoman.''
''Oooo, Catwoman! I like it!'' the newly named Catwoman said ''You got the idea from my ears, didn't you. Well, lucky for you, they are not the only cat features I have...'' and with that she lashed at Bruce.
Just then he noticed that the burglar had metallic claws on her fingers. Thankfully, Bruce was able to avoid the attack and tried to hit Catwoman. His attempt failed and the woman used the opportunity to strike again. This time she succeeded and ended up scratching Batman's face. Thankfully the mask took most of the hit, but Bruce still got scratched on the uncovered part of his face. Despite this, he grabbed Catwoman by the hand, much to her surprise, and punched her across the face so hard the her goggles fell off. Catwoman was now on the ground and was... crying?
''How could you!'' she sobbed ''Do you have any idea how much this hurts!?''
Bruce was about to let his guard down, but then he heard Selina's voice in his head ''Can't believe you fell for the oldest trick in the book!''
Batman smiled ''Nice try, but I am not falling for the oldest trick in the book!''
That was a surprise for Catwoman. How did he know about the oldest trick in the book? This made her think of- no! She had no time to think about this now! As quick as a lighting, she was back on her feet and ready to fight again.
''You didn't fall for it, huh?'' she said with a smile ''Guess you are more than just muscles.''
The bat and the cat once again started fighting. For a few minutes, nobody could come on top. But finally, Batman was able to grab Catwoman by the hands and pin her to the wall.
''It's over, Catwoman!'' Batman said angrily ''You should hav-'' Bruce froze when, through the mask, his blue eyes met with Catwoman's green ones! He hadn't seen those eyes in twelve years.
Catwoman also froze when her green eyes met with Batman's blue ones. She too hadn't seen those eyes in twelve years.
''Selina?'' Bruce whispered.
''Bruce?'' Selina whispered.
At that moment, a loud cry was heard ''POLICE, COME OUT!'' the police was here.
Selina had to get out of there. She managed to free herself from Batman's grasp and made a run to the nearest window. She jumped out of it and disappeared into the night. Bruce too jumped out of a window but there was no trace of Catwoman or should he say... Selina.
Bruce could not believe it. Was it possible that he had just run into Selina? Could he be wrong? If he was, how did she recognize him? So many questions, yet no answers.
Not too fat away, Selina had stopped once she was sure she was alone and started asking herself the same questions. Bruce had promised her that he would fix Gotham, but this was not the way she was thinking he would do it. Sure, she had heard about all of his projects and she was glide that he was keeping his promise to her, but dressing up as a bat?! She was not expecting that.
Once again, the two orphans went on their separate paths. They didn't knew what the future had in store for them, but they knew that they would see each other again, either as Bruce Wayne and Selina Kyle, or as Batman and Catwoman.
The end!
(I don't own any of the characters or the locations! They all belong to DC! )