A/N: Gotham Season 4 may be over, but I'm just starting! Enjoy!

Lovecraft Pt. 1

Selina blew out her air steadily as she tried to balance on the hand railing above a three story drop. Her legs wobbled a bit but she was generally able to keep her balance as long as she stayed focused.

However, a voice jarred her from her concentration. "Good form," Bruce commented, "but you still need to keep your core tighter."

Selina's foot slipped in surprise. After a few panicked seconds of trying to regain balance, she scolded, "Damn you, Bruce!" The boy stood across from her, balancing on the slim bar without the slightest bit of fear in his dark eyes.

He raised an eyebrow. "Little, innocent Selina Wayne knows how to swear? I gotta say, Cat, I'm impressed." She rolled her eyes and jumped off the railing to the floor. Bruce joined her and said, "If you wanna test yourself I can take you to the Midtown Bridge."

"You've climbed it?" Selina asked while putting her shoes back on.

Bruce nodded. "All the way to the top. Kids go up there to make out all the time…I could take you if you want," he added with a flirtatious smirk.

Selina considered for a few seconds before agreeing, "Sure, but don't get any ideas, Kyle."

Bruce mocked hurt, saying, "Why would you think I meant that?" She rolled her eyes, so he shrugged. "Besides, I know you wanna kiss me."

She huffed. "Oh, really?"

Bruce moved in slightly, "Yeah, really."

"For the record," Selina started, "I do want to kiss you," she said, moving a bit closer. There were only a few inches between them and she lingered there for a few seconds before reaching down to pick up her other shoe.

Bruce scoffed. He'd just gotten played.

She continued, "But I can't help but feel that you have another motive."

Bruce raised his eyebrows in challenge. "And what motive is that?"

"Well, you've lived on the streets your whole life, and now you live in a big mansion because of me."

Bruce physically felt her words push one of his buttons. "And? What about it?" he asked, a bit of a darker tone entering his voice.

Selina didn't pick up on his shift in tone and she continued, "You want a way off the streets and living here, with me, gives you the opportunity. So, I think you're using me. I wouldn't think that of most people, but…you haven't been particularly nice to me or Alfred since you got here…"

Every word felt like a knife to the chest to Bruce. He sneered at her. "Well if I'm that much of a manipulative jerk, then I won't waste your time anymore than I have. Sorry for being such a bother," and he stormed off down the stairs. Before going out of sight, he called up to her, "You can climb the damn bridge on your own!"

Selina, still a bit shocked at his reaction to what she thought was just regular teasing, was brought out of her thoughts by the doorbell ringing.

She rushed down the stairs and found Bruce stalled a couple flights down, looking out over the foyer where a woman with bloodstains on her face and clothes had entered.

She heard Alfred ask her, "Where exactly are you hurt?"

"Alfred," Selina said, alerting the two adults to her and Bruce's presences. "Is everything alright?" she asked.

He looked up at the pair of them and said, "No, Miss Wayne. This lady's been involved in a car accident…"

The hair on the back of Bruce's neck stood on end.

Alfred stopped when he noticed the fearful look on Bruce's face. He turned back to the woman and saw that her fake, terrified expression had crumbled away and been replaced with one of sinister intent.

"Run," he commanded the two kids. "Run!"

Bruce didn't hesitate. He latched onto Selina's wrist and started pulling her up the steps, as Alfred stalled for time by confronting the woman.

Bruce dragged Selina until she fell in stride and they went sprinting down the hallways. Selina told him, "Left!"

They ran into a bathroom and Selina slammed the door. She opened another doorway and told Bruce, "There's a way out through the closet but we need to help Alfred…"

He cut her off, "There's no time!" He closed the second door behind them and they went running down another passage.

The corridor led to a second story balcony, which Bruce dropped down off of easily, landing in a crouch. He grunted from the force, and looked up at Selina, who'd paused. "Come on!" he yelled. "It looks farther than it is!"

She nodded and, with one last look back at the mansion, dropped down to the ground.

Bruce was almost at the hedge maze when he turned back to make sure Selina was following. "Cat, come on!"

She looked back at the house and told him, "Alfred might be hurt, I can't leave him…"

Bruce clenched his fist in agitation. "He told you to run, which means he knew he could take them by himself, so let's go!"

Bruce took off running, and he soon heard the footsteps of Selina behind him. He allowed her to catch up and she led him through the hedge maze. They'd heard gunshots from farther back, but Bruce ignored them, telling Selina to keep running. They arrived at the edge of the main road and Bruce took a few looks around, figuring out where they were in relation to Gotham. He pointed towards the direction of the city and said, "Come on."

They walked along the tree line for a couple minutes until, finally, the woods stopped and they were met by an open field with a building here and there.

Bruce let out a content sigh. He could see Gotham from there, and it gave him renewed confidence knowing that they were only a few miles away from his home. Once there, no one would find him if he didn't want them to.

Selina spoke up, "We need to call Alfred."

"You see any phones?" he replied sarcastically.

"No," she responded in defeat. "But we should go back to my house. If the police are there, we'll know it's safe."

Bruce scoffed. "No offense, Cat, but I wouldn't exactly call your house safe."

"Well…we have to contact the police at some point…" she paused. "Someone tried to kill you, B," she said with concern in her voice.

The concern she had for him made Bruce's heart feel a bit warmer than usual, but he suppressed the feeling and commented, "I don't think they were there for me, Cat. Nobody even knew I was there. And if it wasn't me, and it definitely wasn't Alfred, that leaves…"

"Me," Selina finished gravely.

Bruce felt bad for scaring the poor girl. Granted, where he came from, everyone had it rough. It was just normal. But she seemed too innocent…too good to be given the fate she'd been dealt. She had had everything, and now she was left with practically nothing.

"Why would anyone wanna kill me?" she asked.

"Must be all that lame detective work you're doing," Bruce replied, hoping a bit of teasing would lift her spirits. "Paid off good, huh?"

Bruce paused and took in the entire sight of the Gotham skyline, just across the river. It was peaceful out there, but seeing the look of fear on Selina's face ruined the view. It reminded him of that night in the alley, of the gunshots, of the scream… He stopped his thoughts before he could remember that sound.

He told her, "Cheer up, Cat. We're cool. We lost 'em."

"I'm just worried about Alfred…"

"Relax," he interrupted. "Once I got you safely hidden in the city, I'll find you a phone."

She smiled a bit. "Thank you, Bruce. I appreciate your help."

"Hey," he started, now with a bit of a smirk, "I'm just tryin' to be nice," and he started back towards the city.


After a quick climb up a hill and a walk across the Midtown Bridge, they arrived in Gotham City. Bruce took a big whiff of the smoggy air and sighed in relief. "The country's nice, but there's nothing better than the sweet smell of the city," Bruce told her.

"Sweet?" Selina asked, coughing from the rough change from the clean, countryside air to the smoky Gotham stench.

"Hell yeah," Bruce responded. "Now, come on, we aren't safe yet."

He led her down a couple blocks, going deeper and deeper into the city before they arrived at a payphone Bruce knew about. He'd taken special care to not lead Selina down any streets that had a phone up until then.

"There's a phone!" she cried. She picked up the receiver and started to dial. Much to the amusement of Bruce, she looked severely confused when she typed in the number and it didn't start to ring. She realized there was a coin slot and said, "I don't carry coins, do you…"

She never finished as he was already holding out a quarter for her to take. She smiled meekly and inserted the coin.

Before she could dial the number again, Bruce told her, "Good luck, kid. See you around, maybe," he said, starting towards the nearest fire escape low enough to reach.

"What?" she asked. "Wait!"

Bruce turned on his heel and said, "Look, those guys were there for me, not you. As long as you stay away from me, you have nothing to worry about." He nodded to the building across the street and Selina finally realized why he'd brought her to that particular phone. Directly across from them was the Gotham City Police Department. He'd brought her to safety. He told her, "Go home, Cat."

A hurt expression came across her face. "But you said…"

"I was just trying to freak you out," Bruce told her. "I was playing with you."

Selina started to look really angry. "You were playing with me? That's kind of cruel isn't it?"

"Yeah," Bruce shot back. "No, look, you were right about me. I'm not nice. Not like you. You have a nice way about you," he shrugged.

"A nice way?" Selina asked, now a fully fledged look of betrayal plastered on her face.

"Yeah," he replied. "That's why I said that thing about you being the target so, you know," he chuckled at his own naivety, "we could hang out a while longer…" he trailed off.

She paused and looked at him icily. "I see," she uttered. "It's very convoluted reasoning."

Bruce scoffed and shook his head. "Whatever. Anyhow, it's been cool. I'm gonna disappear."

"You can't do that," Selina argued.

"Wasn't asking!" Bruce shot back.

"You can't disappear! You have to come back home with me," she told him. "When Detective Gordon finds the man who killed my parents…you have to testify."

Bruce huffed. He didn't want to say the words that he was about to say.

He really didn't.

But it had to be done, for her sake. "You really think that was ever gonna happen?" The look of renewed hurt on her face felt like a knife in the heart, but he had to finish this argument right then and there. Every second she was around him was another that the assassins could catch up, and she could get caught in the crossfire. "Grow up, Cat."

He turned away from her and ran at a wall, running up three steps and grabbing a fire escape ladder. He started to scale the platforms, and took one last look back at Selina.

She was following him up.

Great, he thought.

Bruce reached the rooftop a couple dozen feet in front of her. She only saw him on the same roof for few seconds before he leapt across the gap, which was at least an eight story drop. He flew across and landed gracefully on the other side like he'd been born doing it.

Selina pursued the boy. She got onto the roof and ran towards the edge, but slammed on the breaks once she realized there was nothing in between the two buildings.

Just a drop, straight down.

Bruce stood on the other side with a victorious smirk.

She turned back and jogged to the other side of the roof.

Bruce realized what she was about to do and his smirk disappeared. He called out to her, "No, don't, you won't make it!"

She ignored him. Taking a deep breath, she sprinted to towards the edge of the building, full speed, and leapt off her roof. Everything slowed down. She would never forget the feeling of flying through the air over certain death, the exhilaration of it, the pounding of her heart, all of it was seared into her mind.

It was bliss, until she realized she was going to come up a few inches short.

She would've died had Bruce not reached out and caught her. By some miracle, her bodyweight, accompanied by the force she'd build up to jump across, hadn't pulled them both off of the rooftop and down to certain death.

He dug in his feet and lifted her up out of the chasm, both now breathing heavily.

"You're crazy," Bruce told her flatly.

Surprisingly, she grinned. Bruce thought, Who the hell is this girl?

She responded, "Maybe, but there's no way in hell you're getting away that easy." He raised an eyebrow and her confidence slipped, saying, "But please…for the love of god…don't run off again."

Bruce smirked. "Okay, kid," he told her, a newfound respect in his voice. "You earned it. You wanna hang with me? That's cool, but my world, my rules, you do what I say."

She nodded, "Fine. Where…" but she paused for no apparent reason. Suddenly, right then and there, her brain decided to notice how handsome the boy looked with his dark brown eyes and wild hair, the wind making it go in just the right direction. Obviously, she'd always thought he was cute, but it was unlike her to get distracted by a boy so easily. "Where to first, then?" she finally stuttered out.

"First, we need to turn you into a street-kid," he said, gesturing to her preppy but dirty outfit. "And I know just the place."


"Where are we?" Selina asked, looking around the old, abandoned building Bruce had brought her to.

Well, it technically wasn't abandoned, just taken over.

Teens and young adults were milling about the racks of beat-up street clothes, or sitting around on couches with sodas and bags of chips. Low rock music was blaring in the background.

Bruce smirked. "This is the Flea. It's like the mall for street kids, just without the shitty music. We'll be safe here until dark. For now, though, we need to get you changed. Come on, there's someone I want you to meet."

Bruce led her to the back of the Flea where a few girls were standing around the racks of clothes. He called out to one, "Hey, Zee."

One of them looked up.

She was gorgeous.

She had dark, curly hair and was wearing an old Gotham Knights baseball cap over it. Somehow, the hat only complemented her look, and when she came closer, Selina noticed the girl was a few inches taller than her, and saw that she was even wearing makeup.

"Hey, B," she said, giving him a dazzling smile. Some of her friends giggled to each other, but it was loud enough for both Bruce and Selina to hear. The girl, Zee, ignored them, but Selina had the sudden urge to take Bruce's switchblade from his pocket and gut the onlookers on the spot.

Whoa, she thought. Where did that come from?

The girl marched right up to him and threw her arms around his neck. Bruce returned the hug and Selina thought she was gonna puke.

"How are you?" the girl asked, finally letting go of his neck just to start running her hands all over his face and chest, looking for injuries.

"Good," he responded simply.

Zee seemed content that he was fine.

So, she slapped him.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" she yelled. "You've been gone for weeks! No one knew where you were. I…we thought…"

"I'm sorry, Zee," he told her, holding the spot where she'd hit him. "Did you hear about Tin's fight club getting raided?" he asked. She nodded and he continued, "I was selling some stuff there when the cops got there, fell in line."

Zee asked, "So, then what? I know you aren't smart enough to get out of Juvie by yourself."

Bruce rolled his eyes. "I cut a deal, told one of the Detectives that I witnessed a murder, he put me in witness protection. But, that's not why I'm here." For the first time since the girl had walked up, Bruce acknowledged Selina's existence, saying, "Zee, this is my friend, Cat."

The girl beamed at Selina and Selina had to resist the urge to punch her in her perfect teeth.

"Nice to meet you, Cat," she said. "I'm Zatanna, but people call me Zee." The girl stuck out her hand and Selina begrudgingly shook it.

When Selina didn't say anything in response, Bruce told Zee, "Well, Cat isn't from around here, and she needs a change of clothes, ya know, something less cute."

Selina felt a blush rise in her cheeks, but she forced herself to not smile at the rare compliment.

Zee nodded, examining Selina like some new doll she got to play with. "Yeah, this'll be easy. Sit tight, B," and with that, she took Selina by the hand and started to lead her towards the clothing racks.

Bruce called out to her, "Zee, one more thing."

He whispered something in her ear and she nodded, saying, "Got it." She turned back to Selina and said, "Come on, Cat. We're gonna make a street kid out of you, yet." She pulled out a leather jacket from the racks and showed it to Selina, who shrugged, even though she secretly loved it.


Meanwhile, Bruce went off to do some business of his own. He knew where he had to go next, and he thoroughly dreaded it.

He made his way up to the balcony of the Flea and a familiar, chilling smile greeted him.

"Brucey!" a boy announced. "Where you been, man?"

Bruce smiled weakly. "Hey, Jack. I'm doing fine, thanks."

The boy, Jack Napier, was sitting behind his desk, counting all the revenue that the Flea and several other establishments had made that day. Even though he was only just sixteen, Jack worked for Don Maroni. He was surrounded by a pair of bodyguards, even though there was really no need for them. Anyone who knew anything about Jack Napier knew to never cross him. If his creepy smile and psychotic, inane laugh wasn't enough, the boy was proficient with knives and guns, and Bruce knew he was always armed.

The other boy stood from the desk and clapped Bruce on the shoulder. "Please, sit," he said, gesturing to one of the chairs. Bruce obliged and he asked, "What's up?"

"Well, you know how Tin got busted, 'bout a month ago?" Bruce asked.

Jack nodded. "Real shame, I liked him, he made good money."

"Yeah, well he used to be the Fence I sold to, but since he's at Blackgate now…"

"You need a new one," Jack finished. He smiled his usual creepy smile and said, "Bruce, all you had to do was ask. We're friends, after all. From what I heard, Clyde the Fence is working outta the Factory at the Narrows. I can give him a call if you like? Let him know you're coming."

Bruce nodded. "Yeah, that'd be great, thanks."

"Anything for a friend," Jack responded creepily. Jack made the call and Bruce got up to leave. Jack stood from his chair and slammed his hands on the table, making Bruce freeze where he was. "There's actually a favor you could do for me, in return. An eye for an eye and all that…"

Bruce nodded. "What favor?"

Jack shrugged. "Oh, nothing much, just that…well…Clyde fell behind on his payments last month. Crime is slow right now, ya know? Well, Maroni isn't too happy about that. You mind letting him know?"

"Why didn't you tell him just now when you called him?" Bruce asked, careful not to allow any fear or anger to enter his voice.

"Why? Well, I personally think that messages," he pulled a knife from his belt and sunk it into the desk, "are better sent in person. Don't you?" Bruce didn't respond, trying to keep his face stoic and emotionless. Jack smiled. "Besides, we are friends, aren't we?" he asked.

Bruce nodded. "Yeah, we're friends. I'll let Clyde know."

"Excellent," Jack responded. He removed the knife from the table and sheathed it back in his belt. Bruce turned to go, but Jack called at him, "That girl you brought here…"

Bruce turned back. "What about her?" he asked, having a very hard time restraining himself from snapping that scrawny kid's neck.

"Nothing much, I was just wondering…" he looked up from his desk, "when did you start hanging out with orphan billionaires?"

Bruce felt the blood rush from his face.

Jack smirked. "Don't worry, my lips are sealed." He made a big show of 'zipping' his lips and throwing away the key. "See you soon…friend," he lulled.

Bruce got out of there as fast as possible.


Selina came out of the dressing room in a pair of black jeans, a soft, a lightweight grey hoodie, black combat boots, and a leather jacket on top. Zee had also found her a pair of cute, but durable, leather gloves that she slipped on.

Zee had her spin around as she admired her handiwork. The dark haired girl shook her head, "Good, but…it's missing something."

"The pants are tight," Selina said flatly.

Zee ignored her. She paused for a few seconds and then snapped her fingers, like she'd just had an idea. That girl? Have an idea? Selina thought to herself. Doubt it.

She came back from behind a stack of boxes with a pair of welding goggles.

"Are you sure?" Selina asked. Granted, the outfit Zee had picked out so far had been practically perfect, but the goggles seemed a bit…extra.

Even so, Zee had Cat pull her hood up and then placed the goggles on her head.

She had Selina face a covered mirror, and then ripped off the cloth covering it.

Selina audibly gasped.

She barely recognized the girl in the mirror, but she kinda liked it. Zee stood behind her and brushed her hair out to the sides, showing just enough of her light brown curls. "Perfect. Bruce is gonna love it," she commented offhandedly.

Selina's eyes went wide. "What do you mean?" she asked.

The other girl laughed. "Oh, honey, it's nothing to be ashamed of. He's really handsome, in his devil-may-care kinda way. And you two would be so cute together!" she practically squealed.

Selina was confused. "But…don't…aren't you two a thing?" she asked.

"Me and Bruce?" Zee asked. She laughed and shook her head. "Cat, Bruce is like a brother to me. We basically grew up together. Yeah, we flirt, but we've always done that. It's just how we talk. Besides, I've seen the way he looks at you. I promise, you don't need to worry."

"The way he looks at me?" Selina whispered to herself, still facing the mirror.

Speak of the devil, Bruce walked up and nodded to Zee. "Hey, where's Cat…" he trailed off.

She turned around and saw his eyes go wide. "So," she asked, "do I look like a street kid now?"

Bruce scanned her over and nodded. His shocked expression was replaced with his usual, lazy smirk and he said, "Yeah…yeah you do. I like the goggles," he commented.

"I knew you would," Zee said passively, dragging her fingertips across his chest as she passed him.

Bruce nodded. He shook his head, as if clearing it, and nodded towards the exit. "Well, we need to get going." He took Zee by the hand and told her, "Thanks for everything," before planting a quick kiss on her cheek. He nodded to Selina and they walked out of the Flea.

Selina asked, "So, where'd you run off to?"

Bruce shook his head. "Rather not talk about it," he responded. "I needed a favor from a friend, and now I have to do one for him."

"What?" Selina asked.

Bruce sighed. "Nothing good." He paused and then asked her, "Completely random question: how good are you at extortion?"

A/N: Yay BabyBatCat! I've been wanting to do this chapter since I first came up with the concept for Roles Reversed, and I thoroughly enjoyed writing it. I hoped you all liked Zatanna and Jack enough, as they'll cause key plot points later on, but if you aren't a fan of OC's, don't worry. There won't be too many. Also, I may start posting on Tuesdays and Fridays now, as summer is approaching quickly and I'll have a ton of free time on my hands.

Sorry for splitting Lovecraft into two parts, but it would've been way to much and I wouldn't have been able to write nearly as much detail. Make sure to review if you enjoyed or have any critiques. Thanks for reading!

P.S. this may not need to be said, but I'm gonna say it anyways: feel free to use any OC's that I come up with in this series, including Ted, Jack, and Zatanna, as well as others down the road ;)