Chapter 20 : Four Paws and a Tail
{Downtown Penthouse}
"This is Mike Engel from Gotham Tonight. We have reports of disaster coming from the Gotham Fine Arts Museum where a Halloween charity ball has turned into a night of terrorism. We've received reports of pandemonium and the release of a hallucinogenic toxin within the museum along with sightings of the Scarecrow and armed hostiles holding the building's guests captive."
A devilish smirk crossed the exotic features of Vedette Countess as she leaned back against her desk in the living room, elbows resting backward, watching the Gotham news broadcast of her night of fun with the Master of Fear and the Clown Prince of Crime. She wore an elegant sleeveless low cut black dress with black high heels. Her dark hair hung loosely down her back.
"CDC trucks have been spotted at the scene with personnel treating the guests while Gotham PD have formed a perimeter around the area, but no trace of the Scarecrow and his accomplices have been found. All this and no sign of the Batman..."
Vedette's smirk grew into a dark smile. "And there won't be any again..." She enunciated into the room.
"You're sure about that, sweetness?" The Joker's slithering voice echoed behind her. He sits back in a reclining chair wearing his purple suit pants, blue dress shirt and green vest. His overcoat hung over the side as he used one of his knives, exaggeratedly scraping out the dirt beneath his fingernails.
"You doubt me?" Vedette asked icily. She felt a moment of discomfort in her stomach before she brushed it off.
"I know the Bat. A misguided freak he might be, but not easily beaten."
Vedette glanced over to him with a bemused smile. "You never did tell me why you've waited so long to kill him yourself?"
Joker clicked his tongue.
"I'll need a drink." He smacked his lips as he rose, uncorked a bottle of liquor from the table and took a long swig. Vedette arched an eyebrow at him as he licked his red lips and began. "Gotham would be a dull place without him. You see, its a running gag between Bats and me. I cause a bit of fun, he swoops in to dance, we have a bunch of laughs and we live to fight and laugh another day..." He motioned with his arms.
Vedette turned and approached him, leaning forward seductively against the table, but also curious. "Go on..."
Joker grinned at her posture. "Think of me as the unstoppable force and him - the unmovable object. Justice and chaos. Forever warring for supremacy in this jungle I call "Gotham City."
Vedette pursed her lips in thought. "You find it difficult to exist without him?"
"Bingo."
"Then why help me to destroy him? That which you depend on so greatly for life and entertainment?"
Joker sucked in his cheek with an exaggerated look of thought before he shrugged it away with what closely resembled a withered smile. "The fun doesn't last forever. None of us are getting any younger. Its time to roll curtains on this show of ours..."
"What happens for you when the show is over?"
Joker shrugged his shoulders indifferently. "Visit the homeland, celebrate naked in the streets, write a book, off myself - who knows!" He rambled enthusiastically. "The destruction of the Bat will be nothing short of a masterpiece of degradation and humiliation before I finally send him from this insane world of ours! It'll all burn..." He grinned psychotically. "First the Bat, then the city..." A manic chuckle came from his throat.
Vedette approached him with an equally menacing grin. She provocatively stood in front of him and reached around him for the liquor bottle. "I'll drink to that." She whispered huskily against his ear. Joker licked his lips. Vedette raised the bottle and took a long swig. Almost soon she recoiled and lowered the bottle, a look of repulsion and confusion lacing her features.
Joker laughed.
"Too strong, sweetness? Here I thought you could hold your liquor." He took the bottle from her hand and finished off the swig for her.
Vedette scowled at him, wiping her mouth. "Of course, I can! I'm just..." She searched for a reason to justify her surprising discomfort. "Its no matter. Its been a long night."
"Really? Tsk tsk tsk. And here I thought our night was just beginning." A hungry look came over Joker as he advanced on Vedette with a wanton look in his dark eyes. Vedette slightly swallowed as he backed her up against the couch before throwing his mouth against hers in a ravenous kiss. Vedette felt overpowered as he collapsed on top of her on the couch, but then she eagerly reciprocated his ministrations with an equally growing spark of lust.
Joker slid his tongue across her teeth until it danced with hers. Vedette moaned as his mouth came to her throat, his hands rubbing over her body. Just then a knock at the door startled them. Vedette growled angrily as she pushed Joker off of her and straightened her dress.
"Enter!"
Her associate, Desmond, entered dressed in a stylish suit, clearly preparing for a night on the town. "Mistress."
Joker and Vedette leveled him with an expectant glare. "Report." She demanded.
"It is done. Batman is no more."
Joker drew his knife and advanced on Desmond with a deadly stare, his voice equally dangerous. "Pictures, or I carve you up!"
Desmond grew pale as he raised a placating hand and nodded. He reached into his suit and pulled out a USB flash drive. He gestured to the HD television and the equipment set up to it. Vedette nodded and watched as he scrambled over and hastily connected the small hard drive and played the video stored on it. A recording from a rooftop vantage point.
What was shown was Bruce Wayne's deformed body shifting into the shape of a small animal. They see his butler and girlfriend rush into Crime Alley only to weep at his side. It was beautiful, glorious and hilarious to the villains.
"Hehahahahahaha!" Joker erupted into a fit of uncontrolled laughter. "I'm adding this to my greatest hits!" He leaned forward and leered at the screen, watching as the cat ran off into the streets being pursued by the weeping butler and girlfriend.
Vedette's evil smile was radiant as it was intimidating.
"You should of have seen the look on the Bat's girlfriend's face... priceless." Desmond ejected to his Mistress. "I never thought he could endure so much pain. But he did, my Mistress. He did."
Vedette sneered with satisfaction etched across her exotic features as the taste of the sweet liquor was creeping up her heated throat like burning acid. She swallowed down the vile and looked at her commander of the Jackals. "Of of course the great Batman did. Now he serves a fate far worse than death. This is only the first stage of his transformation." She spat debased words.
"Soon Bruce Wayne will fade away like dust in the wind and all his poor kitten can do is pamper his tortured soul and wait for the years to pass. The fur will grey and the body will fail. And then she will have her love back into her arms one last time before he takes his final breath." She matched the darken chasms of the Joker. "Unless..." Her noxious mind was conjuring up another outcome.
"What is it, my sweetness.." The Joker coaxed.
"I think it's time that we have an addition to our happy abode. Tell me, Joker, are you a cat person?"
The Joker formed a twisted smile across his blood stained crimson lips. "One time I had a small kitten. A birthday present mommy gave to me. One night the kitten acted crazier than usual to my touch so I stuffed him in microwave and watched him pop like popcorn." He laughed.
Vedette licked her lips; ravishing the thought of black cat, that was once the watchful protector of Gotham, being locked in a cage and kicked around like a bag of dirt. "Well then, lets make up a cage suitable for a batcat."
He marveled at the slightest idea of hanging the cat upside down. "Brucie... your nine lives are going to be a living hell."
"What are your orders, Mistress?" Desmond inquired.
"We move ahead with our plans. With the Batman out of the way, we will move on the commissioner. More than likely, Miss Kyle will attempt to shoulder his burdens. Be ready for her."
Desmond nodded his head. "Yes, Mistress."
"You may go." She dismissed him hastily, feeling a surprising tightness in her abdomen working its way up to her chest.
The leader of the jackals at once turned and marched from the room, leaving the Joker and Vedette to themselves. Vedette felt a nauseating feeling come over her as the Joker's arms encircled her waist. "Now then... where were we?" He rasped near her ear, causing her to tremble ever so slightly. His hands reached into her dress to grasp her breasts.
Vedette stilled his hands with her own and smiled weakly. "Later. Right now we have work to do... people to see - to make fun with..." Her voice was shaky. Whether Joker noticed it or not, he gave no indication. Hearing her words, he removed his hands and smiled at her implication.
"I always did like babysitters."
"And with no Batman about, they are free for the picking."
Joker released his arms from Vedette and turned her about. "Joining me?"
Vedette swallowed softly as she felt bile coming up to her throat. She edged away from him slowly. "Not tonight. Go out and have fun." She answered, more cordial than she was. She began to make her way towards the bathroom. Joker ignored her hasty departure as he recovered his overcoat and donned it, along with his gloves.
"No worries, sweetness, I'll drain a kitten tonight, just for you." He laughed as he made his way out the door, the sound of vomiting coming from the bathroom followed after his departure.
{Wayne Manor}
Early morning bluish hues of dawn bounced off the eggshell walls as a soft hand stroked a curled up ball of sleek black fur. Selina found herself awakening to the sound of remote purring coming from the 12 pound body curved against her chest. Feathery fingertips ran though the short strands of black as she fluttered her eyes, catching a shaft of sunlight deep into her pupils.
She was used to soft thermal lips tenderly kissing her flesh as smooth fingers brushed through the strands of her hair. She listened to the exhaling sound of his lungs sucking the stuffy air. The well-built arms sheltering her body as she rested against his thick chest. Nothing could compare to that feeling of peace as she cast a gaze at the black Bombay cat slumbering on the pillow next to her.
His whiskers touched her flesh. A prickling feeling that sent chills down her spine. Bruce Wayne no longer existed to her watchful gaze. "Bruce," She spoke gently as her finger scratch behind his left ear. "Handsome?" She shivered as his whiskers tickled her shoulder.
"Mmm..." was his reply as his copper gold irises darted open. He shifted his glaring eyes to the direction of her voice. There was slight discomfort that etched his small body. He yawned showing tiny needle point fangs. The feeling of being itchy brushed over him as his back arched and he stalked off the pillow, moving to the edge of the bed.
Selina sat up against the prompt pillow and watched the jet-black cat twitch his triangular shape as he listened. "You had a difficult evening?" she asked.
He cringed slightly as she ran her hand down his back. Mumbling a few words as his sand paper tongue touched the roof of his mouth. "Selina," he spoke in a hazy tone. "What happened to me last night. I remember..." He paused. "Joker and Vedette." His mind was regressing the memories. Everything was still a blur. He tumbled off the bed and onto the floor. "Ouch," He muttered as Selina crawled to the edge of the bed. Bruce lifted his gaze at her.
"How come everything looks bigger?"
Ears turned back as he began to analyze the situation; his stance became rock steady. "What's going on here?" He hissed showing that he was distressed. "I want answers."
A bitter chuckle escaped her crimson blades. "Take a good look in the mirror, handsome."
"Very funny." Bruce answered as his fur was standing on its end. He lowered his head and noticed two little black paws. His mouth opened ready to say something, instead confusion came over his face. He backed away from the mattress and bolted to the mirror feeling full of energy.
He stopped dead and peered at the cat visage staring at him. Not a reflection of the dashing jet setting billionaire instead a sleek jet-black American Bombay cat with copper-gold eyes and pointy ears. On his chest was a silver tuff of fur. Tail was curled by his hind legs as he mounted his body with his head pointing down. "This is the punishment that Vedette gave to me. She want to torture me - both my body and soul." His spoke was a bleeding whisper. "Why couldn't she just kill me?" His voice dragged.
Selina bit her lip, turning to show strength as her eyes gazed at the form that used to be the man she was in love with. All that remained of Bruce Wayne was a shadow entwined within his soul. "Handsome," She hoarsely said, fighting the emotions as she approached his position. Both her arms were ready to scoop the cat up but he reacted with instinct and slid underneath the bed.
Bruce was breathing heavy. He had to keep his distance away from her. His body throbbed and his stomach spun as he produced a soft tiny meow. His tail was tucked between his legs, ears back. He was trying to shut everything around him out.
He closed his eyes and steadied his breath.
Selina laid flat onto her chest and lifted the cover off the ground. She peered into the darkness. "You really have adopted the dark haven't you." She teased, trying to lighten the mood. Her hand reached for the ball of fur.
Bruce hissed. "Don't touch me!" His front paws lashed at her arm. "I just want to be left alone." He growled as his mind focused on the dull ache of hunger.
"Oh no you don't, Wayne." She grabbed his sides. He felt the pressure of her hand in his rib cage. "You're not spending your nine lives as a shut-in with the dust bunnies." She scooped him into her arms as he gave a cold unamused stare.
He breathed out a quick breath. "Fine."
"Still a stubborn brat aren't you. How can we change that?" She lifted her elbow that trapped his body and kissed him lovingly on the head.
"You can start by putting me down." Bruce demanded.
She smirked. "You asked." She released him and watched his body hit the floor. "Now handsome, don't you know that cats always land on their feet?"
"Yeah," He wheezed out straightening his body as he tried to control his tail as it thrashed back and forth.
"Now we both know that you need to adapt to being cat , Bruce." Selina put her hands on her hour glass shaped hips. "The question is how adaptable are you?"
Bruce twitched his paws making the sharp edge claws pop out. "I'm not like you Selina. I don't..." His stomach made an audible rumble.
"Someone sounds hungry." Selina arched one eyebrow ready to grab him again but he jumped with rapid speed onto the bed. "So you want to play that game." She shook her head and walked out of the bedroom.
He listened to the sound of her high heels clicking on the surface of the stairs and shifted his gaze to the window. He pounced off the bed and climbed up the dresser. He sat staring out the window moping in dismal.
She stripped off her mask of poise the moment her heels touched the first step of the stairwell. Coffee-milk chocolate eyes burned with unwanted tears as the memory of his moist lips pressing firmly against hers still tingled on her plump crimson flesh, but she could not show any signs of weakness. She could never decode the reason why Vedette Countess imprisoned Bruce within that furry shell.
Lines of tears were streaming down her cheeks. At the sound of footfalls ascending from the steps, she feverishly clenched her jaw and wiped them away. She twisted her neck to the sight of a solemn and worn out Alfred Pennyworth. He looked a little older in the blue tinged light as he slowly walked up the stairs.
"Miss Kyle," Alfred addressed formally by her last name. His breath was faint as he felt pieces of his soul breaking. Bruce Wayne was disappearing into that body. All he held was courage that he would face up to the truth and no matter what happened from now till then he would be strong for his master.
Both of them stared at each other in a long silence before he opened his withered mouth to speak. "Where is Master Wayne?"
Selina swallowed down, her hand wiped the remaining tears. "He's in his bedroom. Right now he's going through hell, Alfred." She snapped bitterly. "That b!tch will pay for what she's done to him." She could imagine the look on Vedette's face as she watched the billionaire prince transform in her cold eyes. She gathered the details of the night before - Halloween Ball with Scarecrows interference, the alleyway fight with the masked mercenaries known as the Jackals, the devilish time that she had with Crane in his hidden lab located in the Narrows. It was all a part of Vedette's scheme to get to Bruce.
The fine points that etched in her about Vedette were that the exotic witch was a seducer, diseased and devious. Right now it was like her body hit a concrete wall. She was at a standstill, waiting for the next move. Her throat squashed another knot of fear that Bruce would never be human again.
"Alfred," she spoke in cagey tone. "We need to find the witch."
"How can we track her down? She is a dexterous woman, Miss Kyle."
Selina straightened herself up. "So am I." She answered knowing that her street-smart skills were going to come in handy for her hunt. "Keep Bruce content while I prowl the streets."
"How do you keep a headstrong and resourceful cat content?" Alfred asked after her as she descended down the stairs.
"Satisfy his needs. Cats love all the attention." she called out from the lower level. "He may fuss and want you to neglect him but don't give in."
Alfred nodded. "I'll try not too."
The moment she caught a whiff of the dingy city, she exhaled. She knew that dark days were ahead. Calamity was forming under her high heels as she shifted her body on the saddle of the Augusta MV. She concealed her body in black attire, leather skin tight pants and a fashionable $400 leather zip up jacket.
Her hair was tied into a high pony tail as she studied her surroundings - gathering all the details that her clever mind conjured. Her jaw tightened as her contact emerged from a back door, cigarette in her hand as she inhaled the ashy smoke.
"What do you have for me, Sabrina?" She announced from behind the twenty-five year old bar maid. Sabrina froze as her body flinched at the coldness coming from Selina's body.
"There is an exotic man that spends a few nights in my father's bar. Pays for his fill and carries an armed automatic pistol in a hostler - right side." She lifted her hand and sucked the white paper of her cigarette. "I can give you the time of his arrival and departure."
Selina nodded as Sabrina handed her a folded up napkin.
"What's this all about, Selina? Another idiotic mark gunning for you again?"
She glared icily at the bar maid. "A powerful friend of mine is in a fix. I intend to get him out."
Sabrina listened to the tone of Selina's edgy voice. "You're serious?"
"Damn serious." Selina said as she cantered to the parked ninja bike and pulled on the red coated helmet. Her hands grasped the handles as she started the throttle and floored the bike out into the open street.
This was just the beginning of a hellish war.
Across town...
A pair of cobalt blue eyes flickered opened as the stench of spilled blood made vile seep out of her heated throat. Body was quaking as a switchblade pierced its way through her waist digging into muscle and tissue. Shifting her eyes into a clouded daze, the female victim became aware of the devilish crimson scars gleaming in the bright light of the bathroom. She gasped a breathless lung full as dark soulless eyes stared her down with a glint into the chasm hues. "Please..." That was the word her vocal cords could muster out as he gazed down at his blood soaked masterpiece.
A purple latex hand cupped her gutted chin. "Beautiful," he chuckled devilishly as his hand twitched the blade across her chest making blood pour out through the dangling veins of tissue. "I do good work."
She choked as her eyes started to flutter. Faintly she spoke his name. "Joker."
"That's the name, sweetheart. Don't wear it out." He gazed at her scarred cheeks. "Now for the final touch." He opened a compact case of white cream makeup. With his hand he dug into the pasty liquid and dabbed the woman's face with the cream, turning her ashen flesh into a color that a character from a tragic play would wear as the their body is covered with the shroud of death.
"There you are, beautiful." He licked his yellow stained teeth. "All dressed up and nowhere to go."
He dug the switchblade into her jugular vein and watched in enjoyment her as smothering breath released a silent whimper. Blood oozed out for her mouth, trickling down her neck as she gave one final exhale and died.
"I must say you are..." His dangerous eyes looked at a hairdryer on the counter top. He walked over and grabbed the plugged in beauty tool and quickly threw it into the tub. Sparks flew as the lifeless body jolted while flesh became fried. "Electrifying."
He inhaled in the smoke with a widely grin and released a maniacal laugh into the room.
{Wayne Manor}
One hour afterward...
"Master Wayne?" Alfred called from the door way. The slender jet-black cat made no effort to turn his head. "I prepared a little breakfast." His voice was gentle but wary as he moved closer to the dresser and settled the tray holding a bowl of milk. He was trying to be strong for his master, showing no weakness as he stared at the black cat. "I did research and it stated that watered down milk would be a suitable nourishment for you."
Bruce was incoherent. He was still trying to adapt to his new body. Feverish symptoms and battering head were making him vex.
"Very well then," Alfred turned ready to walk away when he heard the familiar voice of his master wheeze out to him.
"Alfred," Bruce spoke in an effortless tone as his throat released a sibilance vibration.
"Yes, Master Wayne?" Alfred answered, eyes forward to the cat.
"Did I bring this on us?" He ceased. "I wanted to save those children from this madness and death. My pride made me fail."
"You have saved many lives. But you know your limits and how the criminal mind works. These people cannot be trifled with. Things have changed in Gotham, sir. For the worst," he continued, "There are some good people left that will fight for innocence."
Bruce lifted his paw and wiped the tears off his fur. "But why a cat?"
"I don't know, sir." Alfred answered honestly, placing a hand on the cat's back. "You're still the man inside, Master Wayne. Gotham needs you."
"How can I save Gotham?" Bruce asked in a murky voice. "I can't be Batman. I'm not even a human anymore. How can a cat save a city?"
Alfred noticed the graphite cowl on the floor. He quickly lifted it up. "You once said that a hero can be anyone."
"Alfred, I..."
"I believe that truth. A hero can be found in any shape or form. You just have to believe in yourself again." He placed the cowl on the dresser. "I still believe in you, sir."
The American Bombay turned his head and looked at his butler with his copper-gold irises . "You still haven't given up on me."
Alfred smiled. "Never." He replied in reassurance that his masters world hadn't end.
"Now will you at least try and eat something. You're body needs it's strength."
Bruce released a groan and sprung down from the window sill. He lowered his body down and looked at the milk in the glass. He sniffed the liquid with his heightened sense of smell that gave him the ability to detect any decomposing proteins in his milk.
His little rose tongue moved to the rim of the bowl. He used the tip, lapping his spoon tongue as it moved upward at a blazing-fast speed of more than three feet per second. His mouth generated the column of the milk and quickly closed his mouth to drink the portion of the columns. Bruce maximized the amount of milk he consumed in each sip by lapping at a precise speed that balanced two forces: the inertia pulling milk upward to the roof of his mouth and then used gravity pulling it back down as he swallowed.
Alfred sat on the edge of the bed, keeping an alert gaze at the cat as he buried his consternation with his chivalrous brave exterior. His soul was tearing itself up into his withering shell as his pale wintery blue eyes bore a tender stare at the black Bombay's tail twitching as he lapped another spoonful of milk before pulling away from the bowl.
With his broad range of frequencies, Bruce listened to the sounds of Gotham from his window post as he climbed back up and mounted his furry body on the ledge. Rosy tongue licked the remaining milk off his mouth. His hunger was satisfied by the nourishment his butler provide.
His mind wandered as he imagined the sirens wailing through the streets, Gordon standing next to the searchlight with a case file tucked under the sleeve of his overcoat, and the smells of the city - car exhaust, litter, diesel and murky water filling in the gutters. A quick movement with his paw, he felt the coldness in the air. A storm was brewing above the city.
"Storms coming," he rasped in a faint voice as his breath strangled to break through from the slurring hissing tone his vocal cords produced.
{MCU}
Hours after the dimming sunlight faded between the towers of the finical district, Commissioner Jim Gordon leaned his body against the edge next to the bolted down searchlight. His wary eyes focused on the bat stencil on the glass lens. He breathed silently as the sound of the stairwell door drove his attention to the female detective - Megan Heart - advancing further to his position.
"Still waiting on your pointed ear friend," she asked shifting her eyes to the overcast of red-yellow cloud cover in the distance where the reflection of the crescent moon was captured in the windows across. "He usually shows up by now, sir."
Gordon nodded. "He's been busy." He defended his friend. "All the sick debased minds out there... He has no time for our usual conversations, detective." There was a grim tone in his voice that she picked up.
"You seem worried for his welfare." She addressed catching him off guard. "From the stories I heard from other officers, he can't go down easily."
"Is there something you what to say to me, Detective Heart?" Gordon asked curtly.
Megan handed him a yellow folder. "This happened three hours ago. A girl, age eight, was abducted from the school grounds. Her mother told the officer interviewing her that the child was supposed to be picked up by three o'clock by the nanny." She continued." The nanny's body was found gutted out in a basement bathroom. Cause of death - multiple stab wounds to the cervix area and jugular vein." She paused. "There's more..."
Gordon felt a knot form in his throat as she handed him a print out of the forensic photos of the body. He narrowed his eyes at the black and white photo of the maimed victim. Cheeks were gashed open to form a Glasgow grin with sweat white make up plastered on her face and neck. "Put this out by morning, every cop in the city will know that he's out targeting children. All female genre."
Megan nodded as a random thought came over her. "Shouldn't you be heading home, sir. To your family?"
"They know the responsibility of my job, detective."
"I understand." She turned her leave and headed to the stairwell.
{Gotham Sin - Nightclub}
Strobe lights flickered on the crowded dance floor as pounding music vibrated the chests of dancers moving to the beat. Flashy women waving their arms into the air as their companions grasped their hips seductively. Desmond was in the middle of the floor with a raven haired beauty facing him, arms folded over his shoulders as a slender woman entered his presence.
He caught the scent of her body and instantly twisted around. Standing in skin tight leather pants with a white black lace sleeved top, hair covering her shapely shoulders, was Selina. Her feline allure was empowering his sexual desires as he pulled his date away and advanced closer.
"Don't be shy, big boy." Her voice produced venom as she mounted her heels on the sleek cement underneath her cringing body. "I don't bite." Her crimson lips produced a purring tone as his hand slid down her arm. Narrowing her eyes downward, she studied the weak points of his body. An automatic was hidden under his black pressed dress shirt.
"I can see that you like to come prepared for a dance by the important thing you keep tucked away in your pants."
Desmond gazed at her coffee-milk chocolate eyes concealed with fine black eye-line and grey shadow on the lids. He licked his own curved lips as his eyes narrowed to her cleavage. She fluttered her eyes daring him to make his move.
"Come on, handsome," she coaxed tugging his sleeve. "Let's go someplace quieter."
"Do you have one in mind, kitten," He watched her lick the bottom of her desirable lips. She was a siren with enticing charm to his urge to rub himself against her.
"You'll see," she induced as her hand wrapped around his back. She lead him out the back way as Sabrina stood at the opened door and gave her a short nod. Then the malevolence she carried released. She used a poisoned tip projectile from Bruce's stash and jammed it into the back of his neck.
"B!tch," He lashed as his feet felt limp and his body crashed into the pile of seeping trash bags. Selina stood there in spite as she watched his eyes flutter.
"You know we could have just made this easier on ourselves." She crouched, whispered in his ear, and searched his pockets. "Seeing how you want to be the tough guy, I'm sure that little poison flowing in your veins won't last."
Moments later...
Desmond opened his eyes. A sharp knife edged high-heel was spiking into his neck as he choked. Selina stood above him with remorse embers glaring down at his stricken face. "I want Vedette," she growled.
"What the hell are you doing!" He snarled trying to push her leg off his chest. "You're a dumb b!tch for crossing me. You can't scare me. You're no Batman. Oh wait..." He sneered. "He's not even a man anymore. A worthless cat. Tell me, is he starting to cough up hairballs."
Selina tightened her jaw. "Shut it!" she erupted.
"So you're trying to find a way to change your pointy eared boyfriend back." She pressed her heel hard into his flesh, drawing out blood. "Here's the truth kitten, he's never going to be human again. My mistress has made sure of that. She wanted him out of the way. Killing him wasn't a glorious fate for him. You want to find the cure to restore his body? There is nothing. The Batman is dead." He laughed. "All that's left is a sickly cat that you can sleep with."
Selina pulled away, lips parted as no words burst through. She was stunned.
"Good girl, now wait and see. A couple more people are going to become new additions to the graveyards. And there is nothing you can do to save their worthless souls."
Digging her teeth into the bottom flesh of her lip, she kicked him hard in the side of his skull and bolted out of the alleyway with infusing anger as tears formed under the curves of her eyes.
"That's right..." Desmond winced. "Go home to your Batcat," he mocked coldly.
{Wayne Manor}
Darkness of the recurring nightmare of Vedette forcing the potion down his throat ran through his mind. He laid on top of the covers, front legs tucked underneath his chest. Copper-orange irises with diamond pupils watched the shadows of the room. His tail twitched back and forth as his sleek body produced a wordless purr.
Selina entered through the doorway with a plastic ball of sliced apples in her hand. She wore one of his Armani dress shirts and her faded jeans. Her hair was tightly entwined into a straight high pony tail. Her makeup was cleared off her flawless features as she advanced closer to the bed. "There you are, handsome. I was wondering where you've been hiding all night?"
"Where were you Selina?" Bruce asked giving her a frosty glare.
"Sounds like somebody's in a mood." She teased gingerly moving closer to the edge of the bed as the cat give her a side stare, his ears were back and fur tensed as his claws were retracting. His eyes peered at the shadow in the doorway cautiously staring him down with her yellow irises.
Bruce released a hiss as he rose and arched his back. "Go away," he snarled showing the needle point teeth. "This is my territory."
Selina turned her puzzled gaze and looked at her pet cat Isis sitting in the doorway meowing for attention. Bruce was ready to attack as he shifted his body to the edge, ready to jump down until Selina grabbed him by the sides and pulled him to her breasts. He squirmed into the entrapment of her arms, ready to sink his teeth into her flesh.
"Easy handsome, we don't need another cat fight tonight." She used her finger tips and rubbed behind his ear. "That's a good kitty." She spoke gently not realizing that she just called the transformed billionaire a word that she used to soothe her own cat.
"Excuse me?" Bruce scuffed. "What did you just call me?" He broke free from her arms and landed on the bed. He moved to the pillow and curled into a ball as she stood there looking at him with despairing eyes.
"Bruce," she crawled on the covers as he closed his eyes while thoughts of the man he used to be entered his memory - unguarded, self-contained, vindictive and well-disciplined instead of this morbid form that made him feel trapped as the world outside grew darker. He felt her soft hand brush the short jet black stands of his body as the aura she composed ignited all senses.
Selina lowered her head, cheek touching his muscled back as her hands gripped the sheets. Inwardly she wept as her ear listened to the sound of his little heart beat. How could she give him reassurance that things were going to be alright when all hell was breaking loose around them? She couldn't kiss his warm lips, look into the hues of soft ginger-forest green and touched the indents of his chest.
Bruce turned his head and looked into the softness of her coffee-colored eyes that showed a shining promise that things were going to get better. Her hair trailed the curves of the pillow case as he shifted his body closer to her crimson lips. She exhaled as they parted. He was fully awakened from the dreary thoughts as his front paw touched her cheek.
"I want you to know something, Selina Kyle..." His voice was growing dim as the hum of a meow raced up his throat. "I love you." His little rosy sand papered tongue licked the side of her face.
Selina felt her heart slain by those words. She parted her lips. "I love you too, Bruce."