Chapter 28: Meeting an Old Friend

It was a quarter to 11 and the Batmobile drove speedily as it normally did, only this time it was t in the usual place. As the engine roared, Batman and Robin sat quietly in the front seat both occupied with their own tasks. Batman was of course keeping his eyes steadily on the road as Robin watched out the window thanks to the usual assistance of his car seat. Eventually however, the little boy in question grew too curious as to why they were outside Gotham and decided to ask why they were there.

"Daddy, where are we going?" Robin asked as he turned towards his father.

"We're going to BlÃdhaven baby." Batman answered, still keeping his eyes on the road.

"Why?" Robin probed further.

"Let's just say we're visiting an old friend." Batman answered vaguely.

"An old friend? Do I know them?" Robin asked, curious who this old friend was.

"No, but I'm sure they'll like you." Batman said with a light grin.

"Really! I'm excited to meet them then!" Robin squealed as he bounced in his car seat.

For another half hour the dynamic duo drove till they finally made it to BlÃdhaven. Once there, they eventually drove up to a nice looking apartment complex and parked the Batmobile. Immediately Batman hopped out and proceeded to assist Robin out of his car seat. Once out the two pulled out their grappling hooks and aimed them at the terrace of the penthouse.

Almost immediately the two found themselves flying in the air and then landed on the terrace floor. They noticed the french doors that lead into the penthouse were wide open meaning someone was expecting them.

"I didn't expect you so soon." A quiet sultry feminine voice said from the darkness.

Being totally caught off guard and a little shy around strangers on missions, Robin instinctively hid behind Batman's billowing cape and held onto his father's leg.

"There's not much traffic this time of night." Batman answered in his usual stoic voice as he walked into the penthouse pulling his son along with him.

"It's good to see you're doing well." The voice answered as Selina Kyle turned her kitchen light on to reveal her dressed in her jumpsuit with her mask down.

Batman was silent for a moment, observing his surroundings.

"I see you're not doing too bad yourself." Batman said very matter of factly as he saw nice appliances, furniture, jewelry, and other luxuries in the spacious apartment.

"What can I say I enjoy the finer things. May not be from honest work but can't say I know any better way." Selina said as she picked up one of her many cats from off a nearby table, lightly stroking its soft head.

Batman made no comments or facial expressions leading to a quiet moment between them.

"Just as chatty as always I see, at least you called before you came. Speaking of didn't you say there was going to be someone else with you?" Selina asked as she looked around.

"Yes, come out son she's safe." Batman said as he turned behind him and motioned for Robin to come out.

Still holding tight to his father's leg, but obeying, Robin slowly moved to his father's side feeling uncharacteristically shy. Immediately Selina made a quiet gasp not expecting a little boy to come out from Batman's shadow, especially one who looked no older than 5 and was barely taller than the dark knight's knee.

"This is my son Robin, he's been the one helping me fight crime for the past year." Batman said with a small but proud smile as he put his large gloved hand on Robin's little head.

Robin looked up at his father with a small smile, feeling proud as well he could fight by his father's side. Then he finally looked at Selina and was a little taken back. She was so beautiful with gorgeous hazel eyes and short thick dark hair. Selina quickly noticed this and flashed the little boy a light smile causing him to blush and look away again.

As he did so Robin then looked around and saw at least 10 cats all wandering, napping and playing around. The little boy's jaw dropped a bit, having never seen this many animals in one place since the circus. Immediately he pulled on Batman's cape and motioned him to look down.

"Daddy can you pick me up?! I need to tell you something!" Robin squealed quietly but urgently.

Obeying Batman bent down and scooped up his tiny protégé into his arms. Robin immediately cupped his hands around his father's ear and whispered his "secret" in the loudest way possible, as only little children could.

"She has a lot of cats!" Robin said in Bruce's ear, making the dark knight smirk with a knowing chuckle.

"I have a thing about strays. You wanna hold him, kitten?" Selina offered as she held out the cat she was holding.

"Yes! Daddy you can put me down now!" Robin squealed excitedly as he squirmed to get out of his father's arms.

The dark knight put the wiggly little boy down and watched as he ran up to Catwoman happily. Selina crouched down a little and carefully transferred the cat she was holding to Robin. The little boy was in complete awe as he held the soft furry creature. The cat at first wasn't super enthusiastic, not really a fan of children, but after a few moments she could feel how gently this child held her. He smelt like he had a dog, but she didn't mind and proceeded to snuggle up in his arms.

Giggling with happiness, Robin ran to go play with the other kitties, wanting to give loves to all of them. As this went on Batman and Selina faced each other once more.

"So, what was it you wanted to talk about Batman?" Selina asked frankly.

"I wanted to see if you could give me some information on an underground organization?"

"Well you'll have to give me a name first, but I can't promise you anything. I try to avoid dealing with that side of the city, too shady for my lifestyle and not good enough pay either."

"They're called CADMUS. They're an experimental genetics organization with ties to The Light. I received intel they started a new branch here, and it's important I find out if it's accurate."

"Hmmm I did hear about an organization that was offering spots in a program that's supposed to change regular humans into meta humans. A lot of new criminal have been talking about their interest, they hope that with powers they'll be able to get better pay for their crimes. Other than that, I'm afraid it's not well known." Selina said frankly.

"That sounds like something CADMUS would offer, though whether those new criminals would still be human after the program would be questionable. They are not afraid to test their experiments at the expense of their subjects."

"Sounds like real decent people. I'll keep an ear out and let you know if I hear about anything else. Though let's make this clear, I'm not getting involved with this one bats. I like my lifestyle right now and rather not have you or your justice league ruin it."

"I wasn't going to ask." Batman said stoically.

For a moment it was silent, neither knowing quite what else to say. It wasn't because things were awkward between them, but rather because the last time they saw each other there were deeper feelings left unresolved. The silence only brought back those memories causing both to lightly blush and look away from each. They both continued to look around for something to talk about to relieve the tension. That was when they saw little Robin asleep on Selina's bed, several cats surrounding him. The one the little boy held earlier, cuddling particularly close to the boy.

"So who would have thought that the big bad bat would have taken in a little kitten." Selina teased, seeing from the moment the dark knight introduced the little boy that he was under the spell of the adorable child.

"Robin." Batman quickly corrected.

"Whatever, either way he clearly has you wrapped around his cute little finger." Selina further teased.

Batman remained silent, but even he couldn't hide the slight smirk he had, knowing all too well that he was like putty in Dick's tiny hands.

"Fatherhood suits you, just be sure to treasure that little boy and be sure to let him know you love him. As someone who was never acknowledged by their father till it was too late, I can tell you it leaves scars." Selina advised somberly.

Batman nearly nodded and then walked over to his baby who slept so peacefully. As gingerly as possible and much to the chagrin of the cat cuddling with Dick, Bruce lifted the boy into his arms and wrapped his cape around him to keep him warm.

"Thank you Selina, your help was greatly appreciated." Batman said as he walked to the door.

"Don't mention it, will we be seeing each other again soon?" Selina asked in a cool but earnest tone.

Batman stopped in his tracks and was quiet for a moment, then he turned his head slightly towards her.

"Perhaps."

"Well if you do stop by soon, be sure to bring the boy with you, he seems like a lost little stray like you." Selina requested, taking a motherly liking to Dick as nearly all women did.

Batman just nodded and then jumped off the terrace, disappearing into the night with his precious cargo securely in his arms. It would in fact be the first of many visits the bats would make to Selina Kyle's apartment, continuing the strange affair of the bat and the cat.