Three months prior to the present…

She was sure their encounters should have been routine by now. How many nights had he spent chasing her through Gotham, attempting to retrieve whatever it was she had stolen? How many times had he let her go? How many times had he kissed her before she quietly left him?

She couldn't possibly count the number of passionate moments they'd stolen in alleyways and on rooftops. The feel of his anonymous and familiar touch and the taste of his strong lips made Selina believe she would do anything for him. It was when they parted that reality hit her like a sack of bricks. Even though they were the same, two masked figures trying to make their city a better place, he and Selina were entirely different when it came to their methods and values. Although they craved the other, each knew it could never last.

The past several months had been different. Instead of giving and receiving quick, sexual favors or playing cat-and-mouse games, Selina had lent her ear to a sharing Dark Knight. At first, she had been afraid. She'd never been comfortable with change. Then, as the nights grew longer and the months went by, Selina would find herself waiting for him. There had been nights when they wouldn't have said a word and simply watching their city together had satisfied their need for company. Most other nights, she did the majority of the talking.

Because he sometimes refused to give details, Selina made sure he wouldn't have to. She had heard of the disappearances of the Green Lantern and Hawkgirl. She had also heard of Metamorpho's death and attended Green Arrow's public funeral. When Robin hadn't been seen around town in weeks, she had kept her ear to the ground in search of some information to help.

Batman once told her of what happened. She knew if the Joker's corpse were ever uncovered and brought to the morgue, she would stand outside the police station to be sure he stayed dead.

Since those events, Robin still hadn't surfaced to fight crime. Nightwing remained in Blüdhaven, and the rumor that Batgirl had either been killed or quit the Bat's team seemed to be true.

Huntress now kept tabs on Gotham. Selina only knew this because the woman had ventured onto Catwoman's territory. Except for Huntress, he was alone.

And on Selina's balcony.

His hands gripped the railing, the only proof that even acknowledged his surroundings. His eyes were on his city.

"Hey," she said and wrapped her robe tighter around herself as she stepped onto the balcony wearing the slippers she'd bought in Europe a year ago.

Batman didn't respond. She came to stand beside him.

"You're here early. Was it a quiet night?"

Again, no reply.

"Well, it's chilly, and I'm going to start a pot of coffee. If you're interested, you're welcome to join me."

He suddenly turned, gripping her shoulders and pulling her body to his. The silk of her robe and the Kevlar of his suit felt cold against her skin, but Selina didn't resist his hold. Instead, she wrapped her arms around his waist and leaned against his chest.

"You know me, Selina."

"I should say so," she said against his insignia and chuckled softly. "How long have you been trying to arrest me?" she enquired and lifted her eyes to look at him.

"You know who I am."

As soon as the words left his mouth, she slipped from his hold and narrowed her eyes. "Do I?"

"I've lost almost everything… Everything except you."

She forced a nervous smile. "I'm sure that's not true."

"Dick hasn't spoken to me in months, not since I told him to turn in his suit." He paused. "Superman invited him into the League, and he's accepted."

Her jaw slightly dropped.

"I'm losing Barbara as well. She and I aren't exactly on good terms, and I know it's only a matter of time before she leaves. Alfred had passed away, leaving me alone in the manor."

"Alfred?"

"Tim hasn't been stable since Joker…" Batman pulled off his right glove and placed his hand over her jaw line, brushing her bottom lip with his bare thumb.

As his fingers began to smooth her black hair, she softly asked, "Why are you telling me this? Why are you giving me names?" Tears stung her eyes, but she wouldn't allow them to fall. "Why now?"

"You don't demand anything of me. You've always accepted me as I am." He moved his hand from her face and then removed his cowl in one fluid motion. Her eyes settled on hard, unforgettable features.

"Bruce?"

She felt less surprised than she thought she should have. Somehow, it all made sense.

With no hesitation, Selina Kyle placed her lips atop Bruce Wayne's. If she didn't know any better, she would have thought she tasted a tear on his lips.

Eight weeks prior to the present…

Selina walked into the hotel suite's parlor, putting on the earrings Bruce had given her to wear that evening and then slipped on her heels. Her little black dress stopped just below the knee but was held by thin straps on her shoulders. It tastefully accented her cleavage by way of a V-cut and allowed her to wear the chandelier, diamond earrings without looking garish. She checked herself in the mirror, adjusting the red wig, and reapplied her lipstick before finally presenting herself to Bruce.

The brown colored contacts bothered her, but she ignored her impaired vision.

He wore a lovely gray suit, and his blue eyes had a billionaire's shine that could drive millions of women into his arms at any given moment. They only did that when he was in his playboy mindset.

She watched as Bruce looked her up and down, and she crossed her arms over her chest. "Enjoying the view?" she questioned playfully.

Bruce didn't answer. He picked up the phone and said something in Italian with a smile to the person on the line. Selina wished she could have understood, but she was only somewhat fluent in French.

When he put down the receiver, she stipulated, "What was that all about?"

"I simply told the concierge to let the restaurant know we were going to be running an hour late."

Her eyebrow rose. "Why is that?"

He slowly strolled toward her and then lifted her chin with his index finger. "Because you look stunning," he explained, "and I want to understand the components that assemble Selina Kyle."

"You sound like you've done this before," she murmured as his lips inched nearer to her own.

"Never with a women like you."

Before he could pull her close, Selina backed away. "Slow down, Mister."

"Something wrong?"

Selina walked to the sofa, lifted a pillow, and pretended to examine it. "I'm sorry." Before he could speak, she added. "You just delivered a line, one you've probably used a number of times. I mean, I knew you as Rich Playboy Bruce Wayne. And I knew you as, well, the other guy." She met his gaze and shrugged. "So much of that was an act. You're this hybrid of the two, and I don't know how to reconcile the pieces."

"I understand, but isn't an element of Selina Kyle an act of sorts?"

She smiled. "The only difference is that I was always myself. Selina Kyle never had to hide how she felt, and neither did Catwoman. You feel compelled to do so almost every moment of the day."

"Perhaps you've got me there."

Selina shook her head, chuckling, "A couple of weeks ago, I knew next to nothing. Now I'm in Rome, playing sidekick to a crime fighting billionaire."

A grin appeared on Bruce's lips. It was not a billionaire's smile or a Batman half-smirk. She knew it was authentic.

"I know you've been more than honest with me. I just have to deal with it all."

"You can take your time with –"

Selina raised a hand and interrupted, "But I think the only way to solve this dilemma is to be careful…"

"Of course."

"…and not get anything on the dress." Selina walked to Bruce and began untying his tie. "I don't want to get makeup on your shirt either."

"Selina…"

She met his eyes, and her smile widened as she began unbuttoning his shirt. "You've always said my name the same way. I don't know why I hadn't noticed it before."

"Really?"

"You say it with a slightly overprotective and annoyed tone." Her hands slipped beneath his open shirt and slowly slid it down his arms. Selina kissed his chin. "No matter which 'man' you were pretending to be, you've always felt the same about me." She laid his shirt on the sofa, next to the tie.

His hands slid over the fabric of her dress and settled on her hips before pulling her closer. Bruce then bent to kiss her throat.

"Maybe you've known all along?" he whispered into the crook of her neck.

"That's a nice thought."

Wayne, party of two, never made it to the restaurant.