{Chapter 25 : Back to Normal}
The first hour of the transformation began with soft whimpering cries in the dark.
Memories of all that transpired, from being a captive in a shell of jet black fur, recessed as his mind tried to fight against the throbbing pain.
The following hour disturbed him with severe nightmares. His body jolted and his dark eyes darted opened, focusing on her calm coffee-brown eyes before closing again as he fell into a deep slumber, allowing the potion to gush through his veins as his humanity returned.
The third hour, he called out in a screeching, ear-shattering cry. Arms were thrashing around violently, his lips moving rapidly as flesh tone became visible while the shroud of fur faded. He felt his heart pounding and rage broil in his veins as he shouted curses into the dark cavern.
Bones contorted into the limbs of a full grown man and thick muscle mass grew over his glistening frame.
Bruce darted his eyes open as he drifted back into consciousness. Disoriented, he found himself laying on his back on the medical table. He inhaled as he lost focus from the sheer pain that scorched through his veins. He glimpsed Selina standing by his side with a worried look etched across her creamed features. The Batsuit was in the glass enclosed armory; the graphite cowl was staring directly at him like a phantom.
His head throbbed and his throat was parched.
Streams of sweat rolled down his ashen cheeks. He tried to sit up, the pulsing agony surging through his body made him sink back down, gasping for air.
Slight discomfort etched on his ashen features, memories of her recessed in his wave of thoughts. His mind was fighting against it own will as it eventfully reached the point of defeat. His hazy dark eyes darted back open, focused on the shadows that slowly formed around his quaking body. Pants of breaths were released from his chapped lips as he tasted the acceptance of hunger. His eyes slammed back shut.
Alfred gingerly leaned against the medical table as his arctic blue hues watched his master's body shift into a begriming metamorphosis. Lines of sweat sloped down his bare chest.
"I'm here, Master Wayne."
Bruce's eyes slowly opened. Unshaven and grimacing; disoriented and hungry; he found himself still staring upward at the cave's ceiling. Bits of black fur surrounded his half naked body. Bats fluttered high above.
His throat was strained. "Alfred," he managed to say, catching a stench of a sweaty animal. "Alfred... where are you?" His breath was heavy.
Emerald-ginger irises became misty pools of shadow as he continued to stare at the rocky ceiling above. The bats were growing restless as he gasped for air, trying to regain control of his bodily movements as he lifted his hand to the weary butler.
"Alfred," Bruce faintly spoke as his breath was weakening. "Tell Selina that I..." His tongue curled as the constricting pain in his upper back surged. "No..." His lungs blared as he rolled off the steel table, smacking his chest onto the cold floor.
Alfred knelt beside his surrogate son and placed his hand firmly on Bruce's left shoulder.
"I'm here."
Flesh became visible as warm shafts of sunlight streamed over his slumbering form. Bruce was entwined with the heavy covers, one hand underneath the right side pillow and the other gripping the wrinkles of the top sheet. His chest glistened as sweat covered the muscle planes revealing the fading scars and deep indents of his pecks as his torso rose to follow the breath his lungs released. There was a calmness to his still form as dark bangs hung loosely over his temples. The golden glimmers of the light cast over his features.
His eyes flickered to the vibrations of a silent moan that echoed through the bedroom.
Bruce arose feeling feverish and groggy. He inhaled the stuffy air, tasting the lingering aftertaste of what he indulged during the hours of nightfall. Feeling the slight discomfort in his lower back, he pulled the covers off and shifted his gaze to the piles of clothes on the floor.
Realization dawned when he noticed the projection of a man's shadow. Without further thought, he reeled up and leaned his back against the headboard as his eyes were closing from exhaustion. He heard Alfred's voice from the doorway.
Bruce pulled the covers off his body and stared down at his abdomen. Alfred approached the bedside with a glass of water and peered down at him with concern.
"How are you feeling Master Wayne?"
"Honestly," he groaned, "like I was stabbed multiple times."
"Don't worry, sir, it will take sometime to get used to things..."
Bruce gave his a butler a withered look as he took a few sips from the glass. "I need to build myself back up Alfred..." He swallowed. "I have to stop that mass murdering psychotic couple from destroying Gotham."
Before Alfred could say anything, the doorbell chimed through the walls. He watched his master raise an inquiring eyebrow. "Probably Lucius?" Alfred said with a slight smile as he walked to the doorway then turned around. "Make sure that you stay in bed... you're still recovering."
Bruce half-rolled his eyes. "Whatever, Alfred," he breathed out while gesturing a hand to the door. "Don't want to keep the busy mind waiting?"
Alfred shook his head.
"Stubborn boy." He muttered under his breath then turned his gaze to the direction of the guest room. "You are very lucky to a have a woman like Miss Kyle... she risked her life to save you."
"I know," Bruce replied, he focused his eyes on the room across the hall. "She is a rare woman isn't she, Alfred?"
"Quite so, sir... You should be the one to tell her that."
Bruce agreed with a small nod. "Don't you have a doorbell to answer too?"
"Indeed I do," Alfred smiled and walked out of the bedroom door. Bruce pulled the remaining covers off his body and placed both feet on the cold floor. He took a deep breath and straightened while feeling wobbly in his legs. He moved to the window and gripped the curtain as his watery hazel eyes stared outwardly at the garden and the vine covered greenhouse that he used to play 'hide and seek' in with his childhood sweetheart Rachel Dawes.
He missed her deeply. There were even times he wished he could go back in time and save her from dying in that explosion; that he would've chosen the right address and held her in his arms, telling her that everything was going to be alright.
"Good morning, Mr. Wayne?" a surly voice grabbed his attention. He turned to the doorway and saw Selina leaning against the door frame. She wore her black pencil skirt and a white blouse that revealed a slight hint of cleavage. Very unusual color choice but still sexy none the less.
Bruce stood motionless as he allowed the warmth of the sun to glow over his bare skin. He stared into her misty coffee-colored eyes. He had thought himself to be a distrusting, unsure, and heavily-guarded person that would never open up to anyone. His bottled up emotions abandoned him every second he looked at the woman he gave his heart to.
She stood there in the doorway, dressed with elegance and confidence and he knew that these last few hellish days of being apart had changed both of them. She had blossomed into a woman of strength and beauty.
"Selina."
"Its been a long time hasn't it, handsome?"
Bruce nodded and drew closer. "Yes," He gripped her upper arms and rubbed them gently. "It has been long time." He gazed down at her plump lips as his lips formed into a straight line. His hand stroked the back of her head and he pulled her closer until both their noses touched.
Bruce closed his eyes, angled his head and slowly drove his lips into her mouth. His embraced his arms around her hips. He whispered onto her lips, "I thought I would never be able hold you in my arms again," he said, still feeling the effects of his transformation. He noticed a shroud of sadness covering her creamed features. "None of that matters. I'm back." He pulled her back to his bare chest and twisted her around so that their eyes met.
His torso became filled with breath as he crawled to her side. He enveloped his arms around her body, fingertips grazing the curves of her back as he felt the woman he loves. His hands lifted up her blouse and sloped down her back, feeling the pulse of life ripple through her bones. He leaned forward and assaulted her lips, taking away the pain she was concealing from him. He plunged deeper into her mouth, devouring the sugary and sour taste of her. He had been craving her ever since he transformed into a damned cat. They've been apart for too long.
She grimaced, feeling a pull in her chest as a knot of fear slithered down her throat. She released a deep moan as she pulled her lips away and swiped the sweat off her brow.
Bruce angled her head and kissed her lips.
Alfred entered the room.
"Master Wayne," the butler addressed. "Commissioner Jim Gordon and his daughter, Emily, are waiting for you both downstairs."
Bruce pulled away from Selina and nodded. "I'll be down in a few minutes."
"Very good, sir," Alfred answered, closing the bedroom door.
Selina sat on the edge of the bed. "Well this awkward," she spoke in a sour tone. "I can see why the boys in blue call you "the Commissioner's pet bat.""
"Gordon never comes to the Manor unless it has to do with family." Bruce replied, moving to a dresser and pulling out a white dress shirt. She stared at the numerous amount of scars and fading bruises on his back and the freckles.
Bruce twisted around as he pulled his arms into the sleeves. "My guess is that it has to do with his youngest daughter, Emily."
Selina smacked her lips. "I saved that little girl from the Scarecrow. That bastard poisoned her with fear toxin."
"So Crane is working with Vedette?"
She nodded and spoke. "The bitch plans to poison Gotham's water supply. The toxin affects children's chemistry. When all the parents discover that their kids are dead, this city will become hell. Usually I like the blackouts and empty streets," She pointed out, remembering the information she received from Scarecrow when recusing Emily Gordon. "Not when blood gushes out of sewer drains. That is not going to be a pretty picture."
Bruce straightened out his collar and started buttoning his shirt. "Tonight you and I are going to have some alone time. Sound good?"
"What's the occasion?" she asked, flashing an enchanting smile.
"Whatever you want it to be, Miss Kyle." he enticed finishing buttoning his shirt. He opened the door; Selina arose and coughed grabbing his attention. "What?" he grunted.
"Pants?" she pointed a finger at his black boxers.
Bruce smirked. "Right."
Commissioner Jim Gordon sat on the Victorian designed couch in the main floor study with his daughter sitting next to him, enjoying a bite of one of Alfred's homemade chocolate chip cookies with a small glass of milk. Excitement was infused in her eyes as she peered at the archway. "Emily, sit down properly," he instructed, tugging on his daughter's pant leg. "You're a guest to Bruce Wayne."
Emily took another bite. "Who is Bruce Wayne, daddy?" she asked in a tiny voice. "Is he a prince? This is his castle?"
"Well the media calls me 'Prince of Gotham'," a deep voice blared from the doorway. The little girl glanced at the dark haired man dressed in a white shirt and a black pair of trousers. His smile was genuine and trusting. "So I guess I am a prince,"
Emily settled her cookie on the table and bolted to him with wondrous blue eyes. "My daddy was right. You are a nice man."
Bruce knelt down to her level. "Thank you very much, sweetheart." he said. "It is a pleasure to meet you." He looked at Commissioner Gordon. "What can I do for you Commissioner?"
Gordon arose from the couch and addressed the billionaire. "Sorry for the unexpected meeting, Mr. Wayne. There is an important matter that needs to be addressed. It's about my daughter's safety."
Bruce gave a questioning look. "Okay?" he felt Emily tug on his shirt. He narrowed his eyes and smiled. "Yes?"
"Does Catwoman live here?" she asked with a wide smile. "Does she?"
"Catwoman?" Bruce placed his hand on the tip of his chin and pursed his lips. "Maybe she does... considering she is my girlfriend?"
Emily's jaw dropped. "Catwoman, is your girlfriend?"
Bruce nodded at her question. "Yes, she is," he answered. "She'll be coming down stairs in few. I heard that she saved your life."
Gordon nodded. "Your girlfriend is a hero, Mr. Wayne."
Bruce's eyes fell to the little girl standing by his side. "What was it you wanted to talk about concerning your daughter, Commissioner?"
"As a police commissioner you always have threats for your life... The scary part is that the real victims that are marked are the people you love. Emily was taken by Joker and almost died if it wasn't for, Selina," he paused. "I want my daughter safe, Mr. Wayne. Your mansion is the safest place in the city."
"Shouldn't you have officers protecting your family?"
Gordon shook his head. "You and I both know that we can't trust my people. Not with what happened to Harvey Dent and my son James. I want my little girl to be safe from harms way for the next few days. There is a war coming and Emily doesn't need to be apart of it."
Bruce nodded and knelt back down to the little girl's level. "Looks like you're going to be a princess for a few days, Emily,"
"With Catwoman?" the child asked.
"I think she prefers to be called Selina without the mask." Bruce explained as he turned around to the sound of heels clicking on the floor behind him.
"Why don't ask her yourself," Selina interrupted as Emily beamed a wide smile and raced to her unexpectedly.
"Catwoman!" the child blared as she leapt into the air and Selina caught her in her arms. Emily wrapped her arms around Selina and hugged her tightly. "I'm staying here with you and prince Wayne."
"Prince Wayne?" Selina implied raising her left eyebrow as Bruce shrugged his shoulders in response. "I like the sound of that..." she laughed.
Emily giggled.
Gordon checked his mobile and shook his head as his blue eyes read the screen. "I'm afraid I have to head out to City Hall. Something urgent has come up." He moved to his daughter and knelt down. "Emily, you are going to stay here with Mr. Wayne and Miss Kyle until I come back for you."
The six year old nodded. "Okay, daddy."
Gordon embraced his daughter in a tight hug and turned his gaze to Bruce. "Will I see our powerful friend on the roof tonight?" he asked.
Bruce gave him an assuring nod. "He might be a little busy... but he'll be there."
Outside in the garden grounds of Wayne Manor... Bruce, wearing only track pants and running shoes, was stretching out his hamstring for a kick. He swung his straightened leg forward to increase the height he wanted to obtain as he felt the blood flow pumping in his veins. Within minutes he was routine training with Taekwondo and Hapkido, doing numerous blocks, kicks, opened handed strikes and elbows in a circular motion along with non-resisting movements to control the opponents he was preparing himself to fight.
He gritted his teeth feeling the surge of fury ravage through his body. His nostrils flared as images of his inhumane transformation, of being a sickly black Bombay filtered in his mind. He still had the agility and balance of the cat and also heightened senses that improved his fighting skills.
"Getting back in the game are we, Wayne?" a sultry voice asked.
Bruce turned around as he exhaled. His hazel eyes became locked into Selina's caramel-coffee hues as she stood near the vine covered green house wearing a black jogging outfit with her hair was tied into a high pony tail.
Bruce had deemed the grassy area his current training area instead of the dark caverns of the cave.
"I need to fight harder." He echoed, swiping loose a strand of hair off his forehead. "A lot of lives on are the line. I need to be ready for whatever Countess throws at me."
She nodded and turned her gaze to the Manor. "Alfred is preparing dinner for Emily." She paused. "I'm going for a run... if you want to join me?"
Bruce pursed his lips and nodded. He bent his knees and grabbed his shirt from the grass. "You read my mind." he answered pulling the shirt over his chest. "Just try to keep up with me."
Selina placed her hands on her hips. "I don't think that will be a problem."
He smirked and pressed a light kiss to her lips. "First one that makes it to the shoreline wins."
"Name the prize?" she demanded, looking away for a moment. She pulled her gaze back and saw that he was already gone. "Sneaky rich brat." She bolted to the side opening of the driveway and shot a chilled glare at Bruce bounding for the entrance gates.
He turned around and gave a quick wave. "Too slow. Catch me if you can," he yelled.
She smiled as she raced to the gates as flames burned in her eyes. She made it to his position and and could see the pleased smile on his face. "What are you smiling about... the race is not over." She ejected, shoving his chest with a hand as she zipped passed him. She ran down the two lane road exhaling deeply and feeling her heart speeding in her chest.
Bruce was running by her side with a determined look on his brow as his shoes absorbed the shock from the pavement. He tugged on her ponytail and made her long hair untwist as he kept the elastic in his hand.
She gave him a mock glare as she reached the same speed. "You're losing your touch, Wayne... I can see that being a cat has made you a softy."
"Actually I was just going easy on you, Miss Kyle." he teased, eyes looking forward at the end of the road and the metal structure of the Gotham Bay bridge in the distance. Selina laughed as they both made it to the edge and peered at the sandy beach that was inches away from their feet.
"I guess it's a tie?" she implied.
Bruce nodded and shrugged his shoulders. "We're not done. Not yet,"
"What?"
He embraced his arms around her and pulled back. "I want you to kick me?" he told her. She raised her eyebrows.
"Why would I kick you?" she questioned. "You would have to give me a reason."
"Kick me, Selina. I want you to kick me. Go ahead." Her face became blank as she was hesitant. "Selina, don't tell me that you've become soft... where would the fun be in that?"
She smiled and suddenly made a move to kick his left side, Bruce's hand lashed out and gripped her ankle. He pushed her to the ground as a smile played on his lips. He nodded to her to go again.
"Not bad... but not exceptionable for combat warfare." he relayed. "You need to focus, Selina. This isn't a game anymore... good people are dying because of our mistakes." He reached out a hand for her.
Selina refused and shot up from the ground. She delivered a straight blow to his arm, maintaining the distance between them. Bruce performed a quick knee strike, thrusting his knee into her body. He then wrapped his arms around her, crooking his elbow from the mid-line of her neck.
She pulled out from his hold and executed a roundhouse kick to his backside. Bruce crashed to the ground then rolled onto his back as she pinned him down with her weight. He attempted to block with his arms as she pulled them to his chest and narrowed her chin to the point of his nose.
"Looks like I won... Where's my prize?" she rubbed a finger over his bottom lip. "Come on, Wayne, don't be a sore loser."
Bruce's hair flopped over his forehead as he wrapped his arm around her neck. He lifted his chin so that their lips were perfectly aligned, then plunged against her mouth, kissing her deeply.
Hours afterward, the updraft of the wind rattled through the bones of Commissioner Jim Gordon as he scanned through the documents of a folder that the Gotham Police Family Crisis Unit delivered to his office. All the photos and names of the murdered children were intact from the previous investigations involving the Joker and Vedette Countess. He shifted his wary gaze to the lit up searchlight and looked outward at Gotham.
He released a sigh of relief knowing that his family was safe. Barbara and James were out of the city and Emily was at Wayne Manor under the protection of billionaire Bruce Wayne.
A flattering sound drove his attention to the shadows. "Turn it off!" A growling voice blared out.
Gordon switched off the Bat-signal and stared at the sharp-eared figure looming towards him. The Batman.
"Another body was found on the East End. Cause of death..." He threw the folder on the ledge as Batman took the contents and studied the documents and the Joker playing card. "Isn't he done filling up graveyards?"
"No. He'll never stop." Batman answered in a hardened tone, looking at the images of another murdered child. His hazel eyes fell under the graphite slits. "Countess needs one more child. Then the cleansing begins."
Gordon felt a chill run down his stiffened spine. "We interrogated Crane and only got a few words out of him. Something about poisoning Gotham's water supply..."
"The toxin only affects children."
Gordon's heart sank; he swallowed a knot of fear. "Is my daughter safe?"
Batman looked at Gordon with trusting eyes. "She's safe." he rasped. "We need to figure out where Vedette is storing the toxin. It will be in a water treatment plant either south or east side. Have your officers form a perimeter around both plants before tomorrow night."
"Is this what she is planning?"
"We need to be ready." Batman handed Gordon back the folder and peered down for a moment. He lifted his intense gaze and then turned to the ledge of the roof.
Gordon narrowed his eyes down for a moment and then looked at Batman positioning his body to jump. "Thank you for coming back." He paused. "I don't know what Vedette did to you... but I'm glad you're back."
Batman twisted his body around and stared at the Commissioner for a moment, he quirked his upper lip. "I always come back." He turned and dove into the air.
Gordon gave a slight smile.
Shafts of the crescent moon, covered by wispy rain clouds, captured into his pools of hazel as Bruce looked outward at the afterglow produced by a city of weary citizens, corrupted law officials and the classes of wealth and poor that downgraded the very essence of humanity that walked the streets. The question that rippled into his ingenuity: How the Hell are we going to save the children of Gotham City?
Light drizzle tapped onto his bare arms, clogging the pores as Bruce slammed his eyes and breathed in the murky air. The beads of water felt like razor-edged knives piercing his feverish body. He steadied the air flow filtering through his lungs and bashed his eyes opened, lifting his chin to gaze at the bright streaks of moonbeam seeping from the clouds.
He thought about Emily Gordon sleeping in one of the guest bedrooms; how he promised his trusted friend Jim Gordon that he would keep her safe from harm behind the walls of Wayne Manor.
A soft knock turned his attention to the drawing room's doorway. He clenched his jaw and grumbled. "Emily isn't it passed your bedtime?"
He walked to the door and it flung open. "Little brat," he thought as he shook his head and prepared to meet the gaze of the Commissioner's youngest daughter.
"Not for me."
For a moment, he directly stared at her. Selina. His love. She was dressed in a black long sleeved sweater and charcoal jeans. Her long-straight hair hung loose, shaped around her face.
Bruce smirked. "I can see that you remembered what I said to you in the bedroom."
Selina shrugged her shoulders.
"A woman never forgets." She advanced closer, kicking the door shut with one high heeled boot. He breathed in the scent as she drew closer. It engulfed all senses, burning the lines of his throat with the empowerment of allure and passion that seeped through her veins. He plunged at her with high driven intensity. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her in closer to his chest. He slightly lifted her off the ground as they were nose to nose. He held her against him and used his teeth to pull her sweater upwards.
She giggled as his smooth lips kissed her abdomen, and then he lowered her down to the level of his mouth, pressing his lips against hers. He closed his eyes as she placed both hands on his accented cheeks and kissed him, swaying her tongue in his mouth as collecting the air bursting out of his lungs.
She led him until the back of his calves hit the couch near the balcony doors and pinned him onto the cushions as her hands gripped his shirt and lifted up to reveal his rock hard six pack. She wrapped her legs against his hips as he seized the moment and tugged her sweater off her silky warm flesh then threw it to the floor.
Bruce slipped his fingers under her laced black bra and pushed up. She released a faint laugh as he undid the clasps and the entire piece popped off her curves and his groin pressed against her until he felt the aching and heavy thumping of his desires taking hold. Breath was strangling him as lips released a fervid gasp. He rocked them with little thrusts.
"Selina, you have no..." he growled as his lips nourished the side of her neck.
"I know," she mildly said as her body jolted with a spasm. He ran his fingers off her slightly freckled back.
He smirked, driving his lips back against her mouth. His arms enveloped over her body as she rested herself against his chest, listening to the sound of his heartbeat.
Selina allowed a warm tear to slip away from her eye. "What that witch did to you... I thought you would be that damn cat forever."
Bruce slid his fingers under her chin and lifted her head up. "It's okay..." he whispered. "I love you. That's all that matters." He held her close and kissed the top of her head as he opened his heart to her. "Being a cat made me remember one thing,"
She rolled her eyes. "That would be what, handsome?"
"Life that can be taken away from you in a second."
Selina looked deeply into his hazel eyes and saw trust... devotion and love. She closed her eyes and drifted as he sheltered her body with his arms.
Bruce Wayne wasn't the only one that changed... she had changed into a stronger woman that never thought she herself capable of love... Prince charming... the Batman. She loved him with and without the masks.
Bruce smoothed the dark strands off her before losing himself into a moment of contentment as his lips parted and he pressed a kiss into her hair. "I love you so much, Selina Kyle."
She smiled and parted her crimson lips, "I love you, Bruce Wayne."