Chapter 9 : Saving Grace
Alfred entered the room carrying a silver tray of a couple of crackers and a bottle of water. His eyes took a glance at Bruce whom was under the covers shivering as the toxin was taking it's full effect on his body. Alfred exhaled in dismay.
"I prepared a little something to keep your strength up Master Wayne,"
Bruce groaned under the covers. He was in no condition to eat. He could feel acid in his stomach spinning.
"Alfred... I'm not in the mood." He grimaced.
Alfred being stubborn when it came to his master's welfare, placed the tray down on the night table and wiped Bruce's head with a warm rag.
"Stop acting so stubborn and snap out of this sir. You're stronger than this." He tried to lift up Bruce's spirits.
Always he tried very hard not to think of the outcome of the toxin, convincing himself this was another obstacle like many his master faced and that he felt certain he would soon overcome.
Bruce took the bottle water with large unsteady hands and took a weak sip.
"I was stronger," Bruce winced. "When I was younger," he said with a heavy breath.
"What on earth is that supposed to mean? You're only 38 year old. Out there is a woman that is fighting for her very life trying to save you Master Wayne," Alfred chided.
Bruce sighed as he lifted his covers and rubbed his eyes. He'd never admit that he needed anyone's help as he believed it was a form of weakness. His own death in the field he'd often prepared for every night since he'd become Batman would've been acceptable for him since it would've been for Gotham itself.
The only other times he desperately needed help, Alfred had been there to save him. Now Selina was risking her own life to save his while he wallowed in his own pain and misery. Whatever her reasons, he couldn't deny that despite her many faults that she was a hero in her own way.
"You're right Alfred. I have to be strong and not back down." He felt his body jerk and he groaned. "I know that she will do her best Alfred. That's all she can do..." he stressed. Despite how encouraged he felt to pick himself off this bed and regain his strength, his body constantly protested him.
Alfred arose from the chair. "Miss Kyle is as stubborn and hardheaded as you Master Wayne. She is not going to give up this fight. Look at all the times that she risked her own life to save you. I know that she let you down many times but you formed a bond through that stronger than any man or woman that walks the streets of Gotham. And I know for a fact that you have never given up on her."
Bruce pulled the covers off his face and sat up, leaning his back against the headboard. He looked bloated into the face. "Blood, sweat and tears is what we endure Alfred." He moaned. "I don't know what will happen to me if I lost her."
Alfred knew what those words meant.
Bruce was in love with Selina now he was to afraid to tell her the truth about loving her. He didn't want to lose her like he lost Rachel.
"You need to tell Miss Kyle, Master Wayne," he said knowingly.
"Tell her what?" Bruce arched an eyebrow which his lips slurred, ignoring Alfred's deducting gaze.
"That you love her." He said.
Bruce was hesitant to respond. He was practically pessimistic by nature so all he could see were consequences and dangers in pursuing a relationship with anyone. " Alfred I can't..." he stuttered.
"Master Wayne, when your father met your mother, he was afraid just like you are now. He almost lost her to another man. Because of that it gave him the strength to rise above his fear and let his heart take over. Soon after he told her that he loved her and then they were married. You see a woman maybe sometimes be a man's weakness but she is also his strength," he encouraged.
Alfred placed his hand on Bruce's shoulder, he could see the blood dripping from his master's bottom lip meaning that Bruce was bleeding internally. Tears were forming in his eyes. Alfred was stood firm despite how concerned he was feeling inside.
"Don't lose your heart nor grace sir..."
He moved to the tray and handed Bruce a cracker. "At least try to eat. I haven't given up." He gave Bruce a nod as he took the food.
Bruce bit into the cracker and swallowed. It was painful. His mouth felt sore and afflicted. "Alfred... she's going to make it..." He was growing faint. "I haven't given up on her..." his eyes closed as he sunk his head into the pillow.
Alfred shook his master's shoulder. "Master Wayne, try to stay awake sir."
Bruce slowly flicked opened his eyes.
"I'll try," he said with a raspy voice as he took another drink of water.
Deck of Cards was a small squared-in bar where most trouble happened during the late hours. It was full of men that worked at the midnight shifts of the shipping yards.
Selina Kyle, dressed in a long sleeved black top wearing a pair of leather pants, entered the front doors of the bar. She passed a few drunks sitting on the stools and tapped their shoulders as she passed them.
"Might want to take an easy," she purred in a surly voice as her brown eyes gazed at Cameron Stifter, sitting at a middle table sipping a shot glass.
"Hello tall dark and good looking." Selina said touching Cameron Stifters shoulders with her finger tips as she breathed into his strong aftershave that was making her eyes water.
"Mind if I cut in..." She asked, pulling out a chair with her high-heeled boot. Stifter was looking at her curved hips as she sat down beside him.
"Where have you been all my life?" Stifter asked with a lecherous grin as she took a sip of his drink.
"Around." Selina purred as her dangerous brown eyes looked at his pockets. "Tell me what is a big shot like you doing in an unhealthy environment like this handsome. When I mean unhealthy I not talking about the rats in the back."
She flicked her hair off her shoulder. "You carry most of your money in that wallet. You keep it on the left side of your pants along with your Lincons keys," she fluttered her eyes pridefully.
Stifter was impressed. "I'm impressed lady. Not too many women in this city have talents like you."
"I'm a woman of many talents." She carefully slipped her pistol under the table and pointed it directly at his gut. Stifter's expression became apprehensive upon contact."I even know how to fire a gun." Her left boot rubbed against his leg.
He instinctively moved his hand beneath the table where his gun rested in an ankle holster.
"Don't," Selina warned, pressing the weapon further against his gut. He retreated his hand back onto the table with a look of surrender. Selina smiled and Stifter looked at her crimson lips.
"Wait you're... that dame in leather that invaded my penthouse."
"More like breaking and entering." She had her hands steady on the gun. "Now you're going to do exactly what I tell you quietly... Unless you're done having kids," she raised a daring eyebrow.
Selina could see the sweat rolling down the tip of his nose. "What do you want?" he said through gritted teeth.
"The vial that your employer gave to you for safe keeping."
He smirked with understanding. "So you're here for Bruce Wayne." He laughed. "You're a fool to come here. Vedette will track you down and kill you just like the billionaire pig."
Selina's glared at him with warning.
He scoffed at her. "That's right he's a pig. Probably as we speak his handsome face is bloated like one."
Selina remained calm as she pulled out the pistol from under the table then pointed the barrel at his face. His bravado faded under the cold look in her eyes. "Place the vial on the table and I'll count to three. This time I'm not bluffing."
"You don't have the guts." He snapped .
"I see that you don't know how to understand a woman's motives." Her finger was on the trigger. "I'm a woman that gets what she wants. By the time it takes you to dial for the police I'll be gone. Don't think that the people in this bar know my methods. I come here a lot. Now be a good little rat and put the antidote on the table."
Stifter grumbled as he reached into his coat and pulled out the vial and set it on the table in front of her.
"There's your prize. Take it and leave," he spat irritably.
Selina grabbed the vial and placed her gun back in the hostler. She jumped on the table, leaned in closer and gave him a kiss. She pulled away. "See you around slick." She did a back flip and exited through the back door. Stifter sat in his chair dumbstruck.
Selina ran down the alley, high heels clicking the braised pavement. She reached her parked August MV and slid her body onto the saddle. She placed the helmet over her head; her brown eyes looked at the Rolex. Only 45 minutes left to save Bruce. She knew she had to hurry.
She focused her eyes on the exit and floored the bike into traffic. The sunset was fast approaching. She knew that Bruce would die at sundown. "Hold on handsome." She swerved the bike to the right side of the street and turned off to head for the tunnel.
A large full duty pickup truck was speeding closer to her. It turned into the right lane ramming it's bumper close to her, forcing it forward. Selina turned her head and looked at the driver. One of Vedette's men dressed in a black tactical suit.
Her brown eyes went wide as she swerved the bike to the other lane, skimming the tires while trying not to impact the passing traffic. She looked at opening in between two SUV's and raced to the spot.
The driver in the pickup was talking on the a three way. "I have Wayne's girl in my sights." He spoke with a rough Russian accent.
"Take her down." A voice commanded. "I don't care if it's messy. We can't let her reach Wayne."
"Understood." The driver answered with a smirk and floored the gas pedal.
Selina kept her body alert as she came up to the exit. She turned and went up the ramp of the overpass. "You want to play dangerously?" She muttered under the helmet as the truck came in her view. "Alright then... She parked the bike on the side and waited for the truck to drive up the ramp.
She removed three caltrops from her belt wrapped around her slender waist. "Come on big boy," she said with determination.
The pickup was closing in on her as she threw the sharp caltrops on the pavement and listened to the sound of tires popping. The driver crashed into a cement phone, the airbag went off and blocked his head from hitting the steering wheel at full force.
Selina looked at him and then continued down the road. "One down," she thought knowing that there was always more waiting.
The sound of a truck's horn blaring made her turn around and stare at a driver waving to her in the cab tractor trailer heading straight for her.
"You got to be kidding," she grumbled, trying to focusing on the drivers white painted face.
She recognized him from Bruce's database that he kept on file. The Joker. For some reason she guess that he liked using transport trucks in getting the job done. This was similar situation like when the Joker almost terminated the late Harvey Dent in the armored truck.
Except Selina had no protection only a helmet and one pistol on a hostler.
Selina looked at her surroundings. The intersection that lead to the road of Wayne Manor was not far, about three miles ahead.
The Joker looked at her through the cabs windshield and grinned devilishly. "I always find it such a delight to run over a cat." He laughed looking at his goon wearing a clown mask in the passenger seat. "I wonder if she'll leave a nice greasy stain on the road... let's find out."
Selina looked at the exit ramp of the Lower 5th overpass. This was her only way to lose him. She accelerated to the lane and made her turn.
The Joker gazed at his target with a humorless smirk. "That's the thing about cats, they never look both ways." He pressed the gas and was about to ram straight into the bike. Selina's eyes went wide as she found herself staring at the trucks grill.
"I don't think so," she mumbled under the helmet and made it to the exit. She dove into a nearby alley way and adjusted her position on the seat. The sound of footsteps echoed behind her. Quickly she got off the bike and jumped into the air, her hands caught the rung of the fire escape ladder as bullets began to fly.
She lifted herself up and started to climb. The vial was in a compartment of her belt as she made it the stairway and ducked into the shadows.
The transport truck blocked the exit as the Joker pushed his goon out and hopped out the cab. His eyes peered at the empty bike. He licked his lips and looked at the slender figure crouched in the shadows.
"Be a good little kitty and come down." He laughed as his goon handed him a pistol. "Come on," He fired the weapon. Bullets bounced off the windows nearly missing Selina's head.
She released a small gasp of then moved from her hiding spot. She dove down on the grate and covered the back of her head as glass shattered. "Don't make me come up there," Joker hummed.
Selina lifted her head. Her only chance was to jump down, go underneath the truck. She pictured what she had to do in her mind while keeping a cautious eye on her insane pursuer.
The Joker moved in closer, eyes glowing with sickly delight. "Here kitty kitty."
She rolled her eyes then leaped from the stairway. Her boots smacked on the pavement as she ran towards the tractor tailor, slid her body underneath and crawled to the other side.
The Joker bent down and fired bullets under the truck laughing.
Selina was hidden in the alley across, her shoulder wounded from one bullet that nicked her. She winced as she could feel the sting burning. Survival instincts kicking in she knew it wouldn't be long until they noticed her blood trail.
"I can't worry about my own body. I have to make it Bruce before sundown."
The Joker and his goons looked across the street in search. One of the clowns in his hands up in defeat.
"You missed."
The clown pointed his gun at the goon that gave the comment and shot him in the head. "There that makes me feel much better." He looked at the rest of his thugs and they stood quietly, afraid to make eye contact despite the masks they wore.
Selina ran down the alleyway, keeping herself alert as a slender black figure stepped out of the shadow dressed in a cat mask with a small skinny black cat in her arms.
"I can smell your blood a mile a way kitten." The woman's spiteful voice came from behind her.
Selina stopped dead in her tracks and gazed into the figure's ice green eyes surrounded by darkness.
"Vedette," she snarled.
The masked woman chuckled underneath the mask. "I see that you're trying to be the good girl. Trying to save the billionaire's life. But you're going to fail." She looked at Selina's pistol on the hostler. "Tell me do you really want to take the chance of risking your own life to save his? What makes him worth saving? Is it all wealth, good looks or maybe it's something else..."
Selina glared at Vedette
"Don't waste your time. Once the sundown goes down. He will give his final breath and you will be alone in this city without the comfort of his arms to shelter you."
Selina removed her pistol with a sneer. "Don't count on it."
Vedette smiles mirthlessly as she placed the cat on the ground. "Are you going to shoot me Miss Kyle? Kill me?" she asked rhetorically.
Selina watches her carefully as she paces back in forth in front of her. Vedette gave her a knowing look.
"Go ahead. I don't think your beloved playboy will take kindly to the idea you killed in cold blood to save his own life. With a gun no less," she taunted. Selina's gaze stiffened.
Vedette smirked. "He doesn't seem like a pro-gun sort of man, correct me if I'm wrong. Not too many fond memories of them."
She gazed at the weapon in the young 28 year old's hand.
"I can see your bluff, kitty. You're kidding yourself," she taunted.
"I don't bluff." Selina growled as she fired the pistol at the wall, making Vedette distracted as she lunged at he,r knocking the witch off her feet into a pile of trash bags. Vedette saw the wounded shoulder and swiped her nails across. Selina winced as she was pushed off to the ground.
"I must give you some credit for standing your ground. But as I said, you're wasting your time. He is a goner."
"No." Selina snarled. She did a back flip, landed on her boots and then did a round house kick into Vedette's chest slicing the mask. "I will not fail him." She did another spinning kick, the witch had it scouted as she ducks and catches Selina's shoulder in a grip, her finger sinking into the wound mercilessly.
Selina cries out in pain as she shoves Vedette looked at Selina's wounded shoulder.
"Save him if you can. But there's no way you can make it."
Selina looked at the sun setting, feeling dread for allowing this evil woman to toy and distract her.
"I'll make it." She struck the woman then shoved her away back against the wall, then ran to the blocked exit were a large massive container was. She pressed the button on the side and the door flipped up revealing another Augsta MV inside. She slid her body onto the saddle then fired up the engine .
Vedette stood there scowling as the rider sped past her and headed towards the exit.
"You'll find that time will be your enemy Miss Kyle."
She stood with a glower as she recovered her cat with a look of gratification and walked away.
Wayne Manor
Bruce closed his laptop with a frustrated groan, barely audible, since he carried a mouthful of crackers and soup. The police had lost track of the gunman that held up the building downtown that had killed multiple civilians.
As irritated as he felt about the Joker's attack and escape, Bruce didn't bother to think of his motive or method of escaping. He couldn't explain it but somehow his mind didn't seem to care about anything other than the food Alfred had prepared for him.
He lifted his cup of sweetened coffee and downed it with a few gulps. He licked his lips then finished his soup with a loud sip then consumed the last of his crackers with a satisfied groan.
Across from him Alfred watched with fascination though a bit of unease. He didn't know what to make of it. As soon as his master had tasted those crackers he brought in earlier it was as if his appetite returned in full force and he had swiftly demanded something more plentiful to eat.
Alfred had been delighted at first but now, seeing his master eat like a man who just arrived at a buffet, he couldn't help but feel uneasy about his famished behavior. He berated himself at first as he felt this was a good thing, his master would be up and about and this poison he was infected with would slow long enough for Miss Kyle to arrive, but seeing his master face him with a wide-eyed look he couldn't be certain.
"Alfred, dessert! Now!" He commanded as he reached to his side and opened a pack of chocolate turtles and began devouring them.
Alfred peered his eyes at him. "Excuse me, sir?"
"I-swaid dissurt nyow," he muttered through a mouthful of candy. Alfred rose with an annoyed look.
"Ok sir, firstly-I think you've had enough, and you should remember your eating manners and lastly-where the bloody hell did you get that candy?!"
He gestured to the wrapper on Bruce's surprisingly visible waist above his covers. Bruce stared at him with a blank look and a mouthful of half-eaten candy before he swallowed.
"They fell out of Selina's purse when she left. Don't tell!" he quipped.
Alfred rolled his eyes as Bruce finished the last of the candy.
"Now about that dessert," he reminded him. Alfred shook his head condescendingly before he nodded and left the room to prepare another meal for his master. He'd taken no more than a few steps out the door before Bruce's voice cried.
"WHAT THE HELL?!"
Alfred froze then bolted back into the bed room where he sees his master looking down at his belly with a horrific look. Alfred himself was stunned by what he saw. It was strange. No more than a minute ago his waist hadn't been that noticeable and now it seemed to be lifting the covers up closer to his chest.
Bruce looked at his waist with a horrified look then back to Alfred with question. Alfred's eyes went wide as he noticed the swelling in his master's face was becoming more pronounced. Bruce grunted as he held his aching waist and shifted on his side, groaning loudly in pain.
"Master Wayne are you-"
"This is your fault Alfred!" he said with a painful voice.
Alfred cinched his eyebrows. "Come again sir?"
"Your fault! You wanted me to eat, like you always do and look what happens. If I get through this I'm starting a new diet."
Alfred chuckled. "I suppose you'd prepare you're own meals as well sir?"
"Maybe I will!" He groaned again despite his stubborn retort.
Alfred scoffs, "Well at least your heart and grace remain intact," he quipped.
"Not funny Alfred!" he groaned against his pillow.
Alfred nodded with an apologetic sigh. "I'll fetch some Pepto Bismol for you sir. Do try not to eat your bed sheets."
Bruce groaned louder into his pillow or perhaps it was a growl? Alfred turned and left his master to his thoughts.
Inside Cameron Stifters penthouse, Vedette Countess was looking at the two clear vials on the desk when Stifter entered the room. He stood shaky as he fell under Vedette's angry glare.
"You failed to keep the antidote from Selina Kyle," Vedette growled. "Failure is not an option." She tapped her polished fingers on the wood and moved closer. Stifter shifted uncomfortably as he struggled to find a way to appease the witch.
"Countess I-"
"Silence!" she hissed.
He bit his tongue and swallowed softly as she approached and stood behind him. He maintained a composed look despite the thudding of his heart beating against his chest and the voice in his head telling him to run like hell.
Vedette sat at the edge of her desk and studied him closely. He was too timid to meet her gaze.
"What happened did you give into her charm?" she asked knowingly with a look of disdain.
Stifter immediately shook his head. "No. She had a gun pointed at me," he affirmed.
Vedette rolled her eyes and looked at Syde, her right hand man, standing in the doorway. "Leave us." She commanded.
Syde nodded and made his exit. He closed the door behind him. He stood outside and listened in on the conversation. Vedette redirected her cold gaze at Stifter in front of her.
"I can't afford to have my plan jeopardized by a senseless fool who thinks that he has all this power. All the wealth. Who gave you the power and the riches?"
Stifter gulped down. "You did," he said nervously.
Vedette nodded with narrowed eyes. "This is how you repay me, by failing to keep a small vial away from Miss Selina Kyle?"
Stifter shook his head. "Like I said she had a gun pointing at me. She was going to kill me."
"No. She wasn't."
Vedette removed a dagger from her overcoat pocket. "Tell me something Cameron have you ever felt the cold blade touch your flesh. It's a sensation that most people feel all the time. It makes your blood pressure rise, heart beat faster as the blade starts to pierce slowly."
She moved the blade closer to his throat. "The wonderful thing about it is you don't feel the skin rip, the blood leak out. All you feel is the cold numbing sense of death trickle into her veins." She began to slice.
"Please..." he pleaded.
"Do you feel the blade?"
Cameron shook his head. She smiled and slashed his throat, making blood spatter on the white painted walls. He fell to the floor in his own puddle of looked at the blood stained on the knife.
"Crimson has always been my favorite color.
The door opened and Syde walked in. "I take it that Cameron's answer..." He looked at the body.
"He made a mistake and it cost him his life."
"What do you want me to do with the body?"
"Make the flames rise. Make everything burn."
Syde nodded and picked the body off the ground while Vedette stood at her window, watching the sunset with a grim smile.
As Selina raced down the street that led her to the intersection of Wayne Manor, she looked to see a shadow was forming on the pavement. The sun was slowly going down.
"No," she thought. The bullet wound was making her arm begin to feel numb. It was harder for her hands to grip the handles of the Augusta. Selina knew that if she stopped now she would lose Bruce.
Selina breathed in slowly and tried to stay calm. She made a sharp turn and recoiled in pain as blood was seeping from the wound. "Damn it." She cursed trying to keep the pain at ease.
Inside Wayne Manor, Bruce was slipping away, all he could see was the flickering and shapes of bats flying out of the dark spaces of the caves. His body jerked as he shouted. "Alfred!" In a hoarse tone .
In any other circumstance Bruce never called for help or assistance, his pride wouldn't allow him to, but what he was feeling now couldn't be managed without some of form of comfort or easement. In the doorway, Alfred arrived and froze with horror at what he was seeing. His master... "My goodness what is happening to him?" he thought apprehensively as he looked him over.
His body mass had begun to grow beyond his once fragile form making him look like an overweight individual which was far from what Bruce Wayne was. He couldn't eat a regular breakfast without trying to burn off the calories he felt he'd gained from it. His skin tone had become ghostly pale to the point he looked like a corpse, matted with cold sweat. His arms and neck revealed his discolored veins beneath his skin where it appeared his blood was running feverish and poisoned.
Standing in the doorway, Alfred swallowed and did his best to put on a placating look. He only hoped his master wouldn't ask for a mirror if he wasn't already aware of what he looked like.
"I'm here, sir," he said warmly.
Bruce's skin complexion seemed to be growing paler by the second. He was gasping for air as his swollen throat was constricting the airways. His hair was messy and sweat was pouring out of his pores like buckets. He knew that there wasn't much time.
Alfred moved the chair closer to the bed and looked over his master's drifting look. It appeared he had all but given up on himself. Alfred places an encouraging hand on Bruce's forehead. "Come on Master Wayne fight it."
The 38 year old billionaire's eyes swayed as they moved back and forth. His chest began to rise and then descend as his breath was growing faint.
"Tell ... Selina... that I love her..." he said weakly.
Selina made it to the entrance gates of the manor and was apprehended by Syde, Vedette's right hand man. She bared her teeth with a livid look. She hadn't come this far just to be thrown off by a damn henchman.
She pulled off her helmet and threw it to the ground.
"Let me through those gates," she growled, showing the burning rage in her eyes.
Syde grinned at her and cracked his neck. "I'm afraid I can't allow you to."
Selina knew that this was challenge and she had to take charge. Bruce was depending on her.
"Tell me Miss Kyle do you want it to be quick and painless like how a vet puts down a cat that is suffering." He laughed, knowing that she was referred to as the Cat the practical cat burglar from the police database.
Selina rolled her eyes impatiently. "Let me think..." She paused looking at the top cement ledge of the gate. "No." She kicked him, elbowed him as he pulled on her hair and threw her to the ground. She then flip and kicked him in the chin, sending him fall back a few steps.
As she fought images of Batman entered her mind. Him crouched on the rooftop looking at her brawling with a few of Dagget's thugs on the roof below, and then how he jumped down, wings spread and smacked his feet on the cement. He looked powerful.
There was the time they spent a night together before they went to war with Bane and the League of the Shadows. She wanted to have more memories like that. She glared at the henchman across from her.
"You're going to fail!" Syde taunted, wiping the blood off his chin.
Selina could feel her heart beating through her chest. The rush of adrenaline was taking over her body. She rammed herself into him knocking him to the stone wall of the gate. Then she did an upper cut right into his nose.
"You'll pay for that," he cried.
"Sorry I don't have the money." She teased with a grin as she jumped high then lifted herself to the wall and made it to the top. She jumped down and headed down the driveway of the manor. Syde wiped the blood from his broken nose and took out his three way with a displeasing look.
Across town in her 13th floor penthouse apartment, Vedette Countess was showing her acrimony as her polished finger nails tapped on the clear glass vials. Her mind replayed the chase across the city and her fight in the alley.
"That Selina Kyle will pay for the trouble she's caused."
She placed the vials on the desk and arose looking out the window. "The gutters of this city will be filled with the impure blood." She said with bitterness. "I know whose blood I'll exude first."
The sound of the door being opened made her turn around.
"That was quite an entertaining show you put on," she replied with a wicked smile as the Clown Prince of Crime entered room. She looking directly into his shark like eyes. She stood near the window, arms crossed; keeping herself guarded.
His eyes appraised her slender form from behind with a hungry look.
"I watched the news footage. You really know how to put on a show that is worth watching," she complimented.
"I always like to preform, to a captive the audience." The Joker replied as he pulled himself closer to her body. His red scars mixed well with the fading sunlight. Joker looked at her sidelong, seeing the glower on her face. "I can see that you're not smiling today my sweet."
Vedette's lips formed a scowl as her eyes beamed. "I'm not in the mood."
Joker pursed his lips with question. "What's wrong?"
"Selina Kyle," she snarled.
"The Batman's little kitten?"
She gestured her head to the vials on the desk. "Cameron Stifter failed to keep the prize from falling into her hands. Don't worry I already took care of him. I gave him his eternal reward for being unsuccessful. I guess you just can't trust anyone. You have to do everything on your own," she sulked.
The Joker moved in closer to her. Both of their chests touched as he placed his purple gloved hand on her cheek. Vedette could see the lust in his eyes and it was almost mesmerizing. She pulled away and moved to the table holding up a new vial. "Soon you and I will be dancing in the blood covered streets." She threw the vial to him. He caught it. "Did you get the will?"
He pulled out a folded piece of paper. "Signed in blood," he smiled with sick pleasure. Vedette reciprocated.
"Excellent. Eric Bexer will be wondering where his boss is hiding since Cameron is indisposed at the moment." Vedette licked her lips. "When I mean indisposed I mean spitting up a red fountain."
The Joker laughed. "You killed him didn't you my sweet. Did you do it yourself?" He asked with an adoring look as if he were an avid fan speaking his favorite artist.
Vedette lifted her hand and looked at her long polished finger nails. "I did more than that handsome. Let's just say Mr. Bexer will be receiving a gift wrapped with a black bow." She looked at him pridefully.
The Joker rubbed his gloved hands together. "I love it how your vile mind thinks," he said with a throaty voice as he slowly approached her like a predator. Vedette could see the intent in his eyes and smirked dryly.
"Ashes to ashes." Vedette sneered as she moved closer, grabbed the front of his overcoat and kissed him. Her hands moved through his dyed green strands as he licked her neck carving for more. She emitted a sigh of pleasure, as she licked her own lips and looked up at the window where the sun was beginning to set then released an inhuman chuckle, thinking about Bruce Wayne's fate; knowing that Selina was going to fail.
"As we enjoy our lust my other victim, Bruce Wayne is enjoying his last moments. His little kitten is going to fail. When she finally arrives all she'll see is lifeless bloated billionaire. He'll be round as a pumpkin which I will give you the honors of carving."
"Yes. Maybe old Brucie can bleed us out all his good looks," he snickered.
She smiled and then pressed her lips until they were both locked in a hungry kiss, basking in the death and chaos they had planned for their enemies.
Selina Kyle rushed through the front door at Wayne Manor. "Alfred?" She called out. Only her voice echoed through the empty halls. She looked at the Rolex. "Fifteen minutes," she said calmly as she raced up the stairway, the vial was safe in her closed fist. "Hold on handsome," she said with apprehension.
She raced into the master bedroom and found Alfred sitting in the chair holding Bruce's bone chilling swollen hand with a defeated look. Selina paused in the doorway, her heat sinking with grave fear as she noticed Bruce's condition.
"Am I too late?" she thought to herself with a racing heart, ready to collapse to her knees if she had failed him. Alfred looked and noticed Selina's presence across from him.
"Miss Kyle," he spoke with tears in his pale blue eyes as they gazed at the slender young 28 year old standing in the doorway.
"How is he, Alfred?" She asked, trying to hold back the tears that were forming in her brown eyes. Her wounded shoulder had blood seeping. She felt failure swept across her face as she moved closer to the bed and looked at the man that stole her heart but in truth she gave it to him.
She looked at his form swollen limbs that were once physically sculpted, now they were a mass of pale flesh. His weight had increased substantially to the point it seemed the side of the bed was caving in. His stomach was disturbingly large as it stood high from his body. His arm hung loosely at his side while the other Alfred held comfortingly in his grasp.
"Handsome," Selina sat on the edge of the bed and placed her hand on his swollen face. It was ghostly and almost unrecognizable. He gave a weak stutter, she assumed it was an attempt to speak. He opened his eyes and stared at her with a distant look. "I have the antidote." She fought the urge to shed tears despite how timid she was feeling of herself.
Selina looked at Alfred and handed him the vial.
The butler nodded and removed a syringe from the first aid kit lying on the floor next to the chair. He immediately filled a syringe with the liquid. He looked at his master and jammed the needle into Bruce's right arm.
"S-Selina..." Bruce said in a weak tone as he could feel his breath fading. Selina looked into Bruce's deep set eyes, one hand resting on his plump stomach.
"Please Bruce. Please don't quit the fight." Tears were rolling down her cheeks as she dug her face into his chest and crunched her fists. All she could feel is heart beat slowing as his eyes were slowly closing. Alfred stood there gazing at his master, trying to show his strength.
"Master Wayne... please don't leave us," he said with all the composure he could show.
Selina lifted her head and placed her warm hand on his cold flesh. He was shivering. "No, please handsome. Don't leave us." Her tears ran down his chest as he held up his hand and touched her face. "Please Bruce," she nearly sobbed. His eyes closed and his hand went down against the side of the bed. Selina's eyes widened in terror. "No!" She wept.
"I don't understand. It should've worked," she cried in distress. Alfred placed his hand on her shoulder.
She moved her head closer and pressed her lips gently to his. "If you can hear me Bruce. I love you. Come back to me. Please come back to me." She held his hand and squeezed. Her eyes closed as flashbacks of her favorite memories they'd shared together from the recent years of their first encounters entered her mind.
-"I have a special assignment for you." Alfred Pennyworth said to Selina who stood by the counter among with the other maids and servers that were talking about the recluse billionaire under their breath.
Alfred handed her the key. "Take this tray up the stairs and place it on the table in the empty room and then close the door. Use this key and lock the door then come back down stairs," he instructed.
Selina nodded and lifted up the tray.
A few minutes, after climbing a flight of stairs, she entered the empty dimly lit room that was full of furniture covered with white linen. She placed the tray on the table and was supposed to exit the room but her mind was curious.
There was a light turned on in the empty room across. She moved through the doorway and poked around.
A sound of footsteps creaking echoed through the empty space. Selina recalled hearing the maids stories about how the master of this castle like is home could be repulsive. Most of them said that he was disfigured from an accident eight years before and hand long finger nails.
Hearing those words she remembered reading the children's storybook about a French beauty named Belle who fell in love with a beast who welled in his own despair and shuttered himself from the outside world because of his cursed appearance.
"What if his face is disfigured?" She muttered, moving to a dart board. "No one has seen the rich stuck up recluse for eight years." An arrow missed her head by an inch. Her eyes widened and she released a scream.
"What are you doing up here?" A deep rich tone, sounded depressing asked. "You shouldn't be up here."
Selina turned around and a saw a bearded man in a bath robe leaning on a cane. He didn't look disfigured. A little older but she gazed at his frail body. "Mister Wayne? She gasped. "I'm so sorry." She looked at his fingers. "And you don't have eight inch nails."
Bruce rolled his heads and gazed at the string of white pearls around her neck. "That's a nice necklace almost reminds me of my mother's."
She stood still and her body tensed.
"No those could not be them because they're in a safe that is uncrackable." He used his cane and opened the safe. It was empty. He looked at Selina.
The slender maid smirked her crimson lips. "Oops..." That was her answer. "No one said it was uncrackable." She moved closer to him, hips swaying. "Besides what are you going to do about it? You're in no position to hit a woman and I won't hit a cripple." She eyed his cane as he focused on her playful expression.
"But in this case handsome... I'll make an exception." Selina kicked his cane from his hand and watched him fall to the floor.
Selina jumped on the window frame. "Thanks for the lovely encounter Mister Wayne." She smiled and did a back flip out the window.
Bruce slowly arose with a smirk. There was something about this alluring woman that he was intrigued by. She was bold, daring and not afraid to cross him.
-"I'm sorry you lost your money Mister Wayne."
Bruce placed his hands on the door frame, showing the indent of his chest as his white dress shirt hugged his body and shot her a playful smirk. "No you're not." He pulled himself back and then looked at her apartment.
"By the way. I like your place." He commented trying to be a gentlemen with his charm. He could not stop looking at her dark eyes that was surround with a dark shade of makeup. Then he moved back and made his exit.
Selina stood there in the dark looking at her suitcase that was resting on the table. "There is nothing for me in this city." She thought, as her hands closed the suitcase. Something made her eyes turn their gaze to the window. She walked over and peered at the rundown ex-billionaire that lost his wealth because of a plot she allowed herself to be involved with.
Deep in her cold heart she felt contempt towards the elite that spent their wealth like fools, though she felt a change come upon her thoughts. "Maybe he's not like the rest. Maybe he actually does care..." She paused rubbing her lips thinking about how she kissed the man that could smile for free. "Am I falling for Bruce Wayne?"
Selina opened her puffy brown eyes that were filled with tears to a familiar sense of warmth onto her moon-creamed flesh. The heat from the sunlight beating against the window shielded her with comfort. Only the sound of utter sorrow from Alfred J Pennyworth filled the room.
She didn't want to let go the man she loved. "Come back to me," she whispered.
Selina opened her puffy brown eyes that were filled with tears to a familiar sense of warmth onto her moon-creamed flesh. The heat from the sunlight beating against the window shielded her with comfort. Only the sound of utter sorrow from Alfred J Pennyworth filled the room.
She didn't want to let go the man she loved. "Come back to me," she whispered in a soft tone.
Alfred sat in the chair with his head pointed down.
A hand ran softly through Selina's thick brown hair. She lifted her head from his chest gazed down and looked at Bruce Wayne, his stunning complexion was coming back and the swelling and discoloration was going down showing his razor sharp cheekbones. She looked into his steady deep set dark hazel green eyes.
Her crimson lips formed into a smile as Bruce placed his hand on her cheek. "Hey beautiful..."
Selina sunk into him and crashed her lips against his as his arm embraced her. Alfred lifted his head and looked at his master whose health who fully restore. His body mass was slender showing his tight muscles that give him a defining look.
"Master Wayne?" Alfred asked with a small chipper smile wiping the tear from his eyes.
Bruce lifted his head and gave him a nod as his arms were locked around Selina's body. He held onto her not wanting to let go. She arose and punched his arm.
"Ouch. What was that for?" He grumbled rubbing his arm.
"That's for scaring me and Alfred to death." Selina said.
Bruce felt the strength in his arms coming back, he lifted himself up as Selina sat down next to him. He looked at the sunset through the window. He arose from the bed feeling a little light headed. He felt his stomach area, it was still a little swollen.
Alfred arose from the chair and helped his master to the floor mirror. Bruce looked at his reflection and saw that he had changed. There was more light into his eyes making them look bright.
His defining sharp features showed: razor cheek bones, m shaped lips that would curve if he smirked, his chiseled chin was back and even his pronounced chest pecs.
Selina crawled off the bed and stood behind him with her arms crossed. "Are you always this vain?" She asked looking at his bare back.
Bruce turned around and looked into her eyes. "Sorry, wanted to see what damage was done to my body." He looked at his stomach. "Why isn't this going down?" He said with indignity.
Selina smirked. "I think you needed to have some meat on those bones of yours."
Bruce rolled his eyes at her and Alfred's amused smiles .