Hello readers!
So I have, on the A03 account, a place where I'm posting deleted scenes and stuff that's related to the story that ultimately didn't make it into the story; however, I'm too attatched to them to delete them, so they're here for your viewing pleasure.
There's also notes and other stuff here.
To start off, here are the alternative endings, now in their new home.
CatWoman ending to Chapter 5
It was late at night when Danny stiffly walked down the devoid alleyway, his sneakered feet sounding louder than normal.
"This place certainly has the creepy vibe… and I fight ghosts!"
The teen stopped by two dumpsters, choosing to sit down and rest between them for a much needed break. Little did the ghost boy knew that at that moment, someone was intently watching him.
"Crazy mafia dudes, crazy man in a bucket, crazy ninjas- this whole city's entirely messed up!"
"Now that's just hurtful. Not everything in this city is that bad~" a silky voice cooed.
Danny could have sworn he had a heart attack at the sudden voice, leaping into the air but came crashing down again.
"Woah, settle down kitten. Catwoman's not going to hurt you."
"Who?" Danny asked, and got his answer.
A curvaceous woman stepped out of the shadows. Her form-fitting outfit gave the appearance of a feline, black suit complete with gloves and boots. The cat-eared mask and goggles only revealed her mouth and the area around it, her lips a deep red. She had a utility belt strapped to her waist, her whip clipped on giving the appearance of a cat tail.
"What's a cutie like you doing in a dark alleyway at night?" The woman asked, her voice silky.
To those who are wondering: yeah, Danny was blushing up a storm at both the "cutie" comment and the woman's attire.
"I-I uh- er- was a," Danny stuttered out, scooting away from the woman.
The woman pulled down her goggles, revealing her emerald eyes. "Relax, I mean no harm. No barking or biting here, I'm a cat person."
Danny's tense shoulders sagged as the initial shock wore off.
Catwoman smiled, seeing the teen settle down. "That's better. Not purr-fect, but we'll work on that."
Danny chuckled a bit, slowly standing up. "Do you frequently make cat puns?"
"Only when I'm in the mood. Now why are you alone at night?"
Danny crossed his arms, giving the woman a pointed look. "I could ask you the same question."
"Same question, but different answers. I take it you don't have a place to stay?" The question came off more like a statement.
Danny didn't really have an answer for that, not that he needed to say anything as Catwoman had taken his silence as a confirmatory answer.
"Well, we can't have you out in the cold…" she looked at teen in deep thought before apparently coming to a decision. "I have an extra room back in my place for you to stay for the night, or for however long you may need, if you're interested."
Danny was quite surprised at the offer… and suspicious. "Why would you help me? I appreciate the offer, but we're both strangers to each other. For all you know I might rob your place, and for all I know you could be some sort of- excuse the indirect cat pun- cougar or whatever. Not that I'm assuming that you are! I'm just curious as to why would you put yourself at risk?"
"Well you do bring up good points. I'll be frank: I'm a cat burglar-" She made no outward acknowledgment of Danny's snort of amusement, "I may be a thief, but I'm an honest thief. I promise to you that I mean no harm, that this offer is sincerely made. And I can tell you're more of a boy scout than anything. So, deal?" She held out a hand, Danny noticing the claws on the outstretched hand.
Danny weighed his options: yeah, someone, who had admitted to being a thief, had offered him a place to stay for the night. But she was honest about herself, and offered genuine help by what Danny could tell. Danny felt more at ease because of the small act of trust… and the idea of an actual bed was sorely tempting…
'That and I wouldn't run into more crazies like I would very likely do if I stayed out here.'
Danny, after another moment of mental debate, gave a small smile and accepted the handshake. "Deal… and thank you."
"Glad to be a help. Now follow me kitten." Danny followed Catwoman as she lead him down the street. They eventually ended up at a nicely kept condominium, the two clambered up the fire escape and entered a window.
Danny was floored by the wealthy appearance of the apartment. He wasn't sure what he was expecting Catwoman's place would be like, but this wasn't what he had in mind. Danny didn't notice that she had ducked out for a minute before returning with a bundle in her arms.
"Purrfect, is it not?" Catwoman asked, amused by the teen's expression of shock.
Danny, having recovered from his shock, sent her a smirk, "I'd say it's the cat's meow."
The woman sent Danny a cat-like grin, "Ooh, I'm definitely liking you kitten!" She then handed Danny the bundle. "I figured that you'd want to clean up. While you're washing up, I'm ordering pizza. Any preferences?"
"I'm fine with whatever," Danny shrugged.
"My usual is blue-cheese, sardines, jalapeños and pineapple." Catwoman held her serious face for a moment before breaking down in laughter at the teen's shocked and disgusted expression. "I'm just kidding! I'm thinking of pepperoni, breadsticks, a salad and ice cream for desert."
Danny let out a breath of relief, trying to glare at the woman but failing as he laughed. "That sounds good."
After recieving directions, Danny walked into the bathroom and cleaned himself off. The hot shower felt divine to the teen, enjoying the sensation of the water running down his back and being completely clean since before this whole 'different dimension' mess. It's kinda funny how you don't truly appreciate the little things until you went for so long without them.
Danny emerged from the bathroom in his borrowed clothes, towel-drying his hair. He wore a pair of deep blue shorts and a black 'Wayne University' shirt. The shirt was ginormous on the teen, acting almost like a dress. Danny was glad that the shorts, which were also big on him, had the drawstring.
"Where do I put the towel and my clothes?"
"Just set them in the hamper." Came the response.
Danny returned to the living room, still marveling at the expensive taste of the decor. Catwoman gave a humm of approval when she noticed Danny return. "Nice and clean now! How does that feel?"
"Absolutely and paws-itively purr-fect!" Danny said with much enthusiasm.
Catwoman laughed at the declaration. "Oh I bet! I'm going to spruce up myself. You can browse through the movies on that shelf there if you're interested in watching a movie." She indicated the shelving by the tv before disappearing down her hallway.
Danny walked up to the movies, browsing the selection.
"Hmm, some nature documentaries, thrillers… romcom? No thanks… okay, I shouldn't be surprised about her having these," Danny commented to himself, taking out 'Aristocats' and 'Cats Don't Dance'. Danny plopped down on the slate-gray couch, just leaning back as he rested near one of the silky black throw pillows… which one of them opened its green eyes.
Danny did a double take before his brain registered the perfectly camouflaged cat. "Of course she has a cat." Danny chuckled in amusement.
The black cat, seeing the newcomer, stretched itself before slinking over to the halfa. The cat sniffed the teen, decided it liked the guest, and claimed stop on his lap with a purr.
"I see that Isis has taken a liking to you."
Danny then saw Catwoman enter the living room, surprised that she was unmasked. Her hair fell to soft curls below her shoulders, raven black with blond streaks.
"Yeah, I guess she did," Danny scratched the cat on her head, earning a pleased purr. He then turned to Catwoman. "Again, thank you for doing this Catwoman."
"It's my pleasure, and call me Selina," the newly dubbed Selina replied, smiling.
Danny smile back, "nice to meet you. I'm Danny."
"Nice to meet you as well Danny. Did you pick a movie?"
"Eh, I'm thinking this one," Danny hefted up 'Cats Don't Dance', "I haven't seen it in ages."
"Good choice! That one's an extremely underrated classic."
"It's pretty good. I just find it amusing that the bad guy is a 'Shirley Temple' parody."
The pizza soon arrived and the two ate dinner as they shared likes and interests while making a cat pun. Selina learned that Danny loved anything outer-space, and that he enjoyed video games and bowling. Danny learned that Selina was an animal lover and is very animal rights-activist.
"You and my friend Sam would probably get along pretty well. She's pretty big on animal rights too. There was this one time that I needed the extra credit for biology and She had recommended that I did a report on a rare gorilla. Long story short, she had freed the gorilla we were studying at the zoo and it ran loose for a bit."
"Oh boy! That must have been quite the adventure!"
"Yeah, it was. Fortunately, we had managed to lure the gorilla back to where it belonged, so we didn't get in trouble." Danny withheld some of the details of that particular excursion, like how it was the first time Skulker came after him.
"It seems like she didn't think it through."
"Not really. She means well and has great ideas to better the environment and the world around her, but she tends to be stubborn and somewhat rash with her beliefs and actions."
"She sounds like a handful."
"At times, she is. Part of the reason she's like that is because of her parents. She tries so hard to not be them, she ends up acting like them in a way. Despite her faults and the trouble she has pulled me in, she's still my friend and has saved my bacon more times than I can count. You can't ignore the bad, but you can't let the bad blind you to the good. Sam's deep down a good person and she's trying her best despite her mistakes, like we all are."
The two continued chatting, occasionally laughing at a part of the movie, before turning in for the night.
"Good night Danny, and pleasant dreams."
"Same to you too, night!"
Selina lay down in her bed, stroking Isis absentmindedly.
"I wonder if Bruce is open to adopt another birdy?"
