The night in Gotham seemed peaceful. The city's headlights shone with their golden light, reflecting off the river, making the darkness seem less cold. However, something in the air, something in the wind, indicated that this night, like so many others in Gotham, was not as peaceful as it seemed.
Barbara Gordon's room was immersed in that fragile calm that only exists in Gotham when the rain is falling and the criminals are taking a nap. It was a college dorm in theory, but in practice, a sanctuary of warmth and feline tenderness amidst the Gothic chaos.
The walls were adorned with shelves full of books, some on criminology, others on art history, and one well-worn illustration of Egyptian cats. There were three cats on display: a ginger named Copernicus sleeping on the back of the chair; a little black ball named Bastet purring on the pillow; and a third, with snowy white fur and wise eyes, simply observing. His name was Hamlet.
Barbara sat at her desk, surrounded by notes, highlighters, and a cup of lukewarm tea. She was wearing a blue flannel bathrobe with fish drawings on it—a gift from Dick, who didn't understand that one could love cats without dressing up for them. Her hair, shorter than it had been in her active Batgirl days, fell like a copper curtain over her cheek. She read with a furrowed brow and pursed lips.
Barbara was about to give up on studying when something strange happened: a soft click.
The window, which was ajar to let in the night breeze, slowly slid to one side. The barely audible sound was enough to startle the cats and raise their heads. Barbara stared straight ahead, not thinking too much. She knew Gotham never slept, and this was another one of those moments.
But then, she heard a voice:
"Barbara?" it purred, a voice she could recognize even among a thousand. "Do you mind if I settle in a little?"
Barbara didn't look up from her notes. She knew who it was before she looked at her. Because in Gotham, there was no room for doubt when someone like Selina Kyle was around.
"If you came to steal my milk, it's on the shelf," she said, without raising her eyes. "Second shelf. To the right of poetic justice."
A figure glided smoothly through the window, as elegant as the feline it represented. Selina entered as if she owned the place, wearing her fitted black suit that seemed tailor-made. Her dark hair, soft as velvet, fell over her shoulder, and her hood was pulled back, leaving her face uncovered. Her eyes, as golden as gold, shone with that mixture of danger and amusement.
"How practical," Selina said with a playful smile. "A hostess who offers delicacies and big words."
Barbara, even without looking at her, let out a small laugh. That woman always had a way of making the air around her more... interesting.
"What do you want, Selina?" he finally asked, turning to her with a mixture of disbelief and wariness.
Selina approached slowly, like a cat walking toward its prey, but without showing any hurry. Barbara's cats watched her, some with curiosity, others with the confidence of those who recognize their own kind.
"I've been running from Bullock," Selina said, with a crooked smile. "He chased me across three rooftops, fell into a fountain, and still had the nerve to yell at me, 'You can't keep running, cat lady!' Can you believe it? As if that wasn't precisely my favorite pastime?"
Barbara couldn't help but smile at her, a glimmer of amusement in her eyes. Her hand rested on the desk as she watched Selina, who was now settling into bed, tangling with the cats as if she were in her own kingdom.
"Gotham never seems to let you rest," Barbara commented, unable to hide a small smile.
Selina raised her head and stared at her, her eyes shining in the dim light. With a flick of her fingers, she began petting Hamlet, who somehow seemed to recognize her.
"People always tell me that," Selina said softly. "Selina, always running, always escaping, always chasing something." But the truth is, I've never stopped finding amusement in it. Life in Gotham has a funny way of being... interesting. Don't you feel it?
Barbara watched her, her gaze fixed on her as Selina continued petting the cat. That closeness, that way Selina seemed to make the room, the space, her own... it was as if everything in the room revolved around her.
Selina gracefully got out of bed and took a few steps toward Barbara, her eyes never leaving hers.
"You know," she said, stopping right in front of her, "There's something about this place, this room... that makes me feel more... comfortable. Calmer. Like the chaos of Gotham faded a little, just for a moment."
Barbara frowned, surprised by the sincerity in her tone. But, as always, Selina had a way of disarming her. "You can't be so direct," Barbara said, lowering her gaze to the desk.
Selina leaned in slightly, like a cat curling up next to its owner. Her soft breath touched Barbara's cheek, who caught her breath for a second.
"Why not?" Selina whispered, her voice a little lower, closer to a purr. Her golden eyes struggled to hide their complicity.
Barbara turned to her, her blue eyes searching for something in the face of the woman before her. Something warm, something she couldn't deny. "Because it disarms me." The words came out without her being able to stop them.
Selina smiled, as if she had won a silent battle. Her fingers gently brushed Barbara's cheek, in a gesture as tender as it was bold.
"I like that." "She said, leaning closer until her lips lightly brushed Barbara's ear. "Although I must confess... I was looking for something more than milk."
Barbara closed her eyes, feeling the warmth of her closeness. The cats, like witnesses to an unusual love, continued their nap, oblivious to everything else.
"So what are you looking for, then?" Barbara asked, barely whispering.
Selina looked at her with a fierce, yet tender intensity. "Your smile," she replied with a gentleness that could only come from someone who had learned to steal hearts.
Barbara looked at her, and for a second, time stood still. "You've done it," she said, before moving closer slowly, without another word, until her lips met Selina's in a soft, sweet kiss, yet full of the promise of more. A stolen kiss, but also a given kiss.
Selina, surprised by the tenderness of the gesture, hugged her, wrapping her arms around Barbara. In that moment, all the noise of Gotham faded away. Only the warmth of the room, the purring cats, and an unspoken promise remained: that sometimes, even in the most chaotic city in the world, love could find its place.
The soft light from the desk lamp illuminated the room as Barbara and Selina shared a quiet moment. The three cats slept next to them, curled up on the bed. A whisper of wind came through the open window, gently moving the curtains, as if the city itself were breathing in sync with the atmosphere that had been created between them.
Barbara looked at Selina, who had lain back on the bed, one leg tucked up and one hand under her head. The golden glow in her eyes was softer now, almost dreamy. But that mischievous look that never disappeared was still there.
A thought crossed Barbara's mind, something playful, something so unexpected it made her smile.
Just as calmly, she got out of bed and walked over to her desk drawer. Inside, among papers and some work tools, was something she had bought as a little treat: a toy laser. She'd seen cats chase him once, and the thought of seeing Selina react the same way made her blush slightly.
Selina, sensing something was about to happen, turned her head toward her.
"What have you got there, Barbara?" she asked with that feline curiosity that never left her.
Barbara, with a mischievous smile, took out the small device and turned it on. A pinprick of red light appeared on the wall, moving smoothly from side to side.
"Something interesting, I think," she replied, and without further ado, she pointed the laser at the floor near the bed. The small pinprick of light moved quickly, like a slithering insect.
Selina's eyes lit up instantly. With a low meow, she leaped up, as if her feline instinct had caught her at the first movement. Her lithe body glided toward the red dot, her hands reaching out gracefully.
"Does it amuse you to watch your kitty chase something so... small?" Selina said with a mischievous smile, her fingers trying to catch the laser. The way she moved, with that feline elegance and agility, made Barbara giggle softly.
Barbara moved a little closer, keeping the laser always just out of reach, moving it from one side of the room to the other, without stopping.
"Kitty, huh?" Barbara said playfully, leaning slightly toward her as Selina, her eyes fixed on the laser, tried to reach it. "Do you want me to treat you like one?"
Selina paused, a look of pure amusement crossing her face. Despite her imposing posture and thieving nature, at that moment, she seemed completely captivated by the game. Her body movements became almost comical, as if simply following a point of light had returned her to her more innocent side.
"How else do you want me to treat you?" "Selina replied with a suggestive smile, her tone laced with a whisper only she could manage. Her eyes sparkled, but there was something tender and vulnerable about them as she followed the light with the same concentration as a hunting cat.
Barbara changed the direction of the laser, sending it skipping across the floor toward the corner of the room. Selina followed the movement with surprising speed, but she couldn't quite reach it.
"Oh, you know..." Barbara replied, watching Selina stretch out on the carpet, struggling to reach the spot of light. Her laughter faded for a moment, and she continued sweetly. "I can treat you like a naughty kitten who doesn't know when to stop playing... Would you like that?"
Selina paused for a moment, looking up, her golden eyes twinkling with mischief. But the sparkle was short-lived, because as soon as she saw the laser move again, her instincts took over. She dropped to the floor, gliding toward the red dot as if it were her prey, her movements fluid and almost choreographed.
Barbara watched Selina with a mixture of adoration and amusement. Every move she made was a perfect combination of agility and grace, but also a vulnerability I rarely saw in her. Selina wasn't just the dangerous thief, but also a woman who enjoyed the little things, just like anyone else.
Finally, the laser made a turn and stopped on the wall near the window. Selina, exhausted but satisfied, stopped and let out a small growl of frustration.
"This..." she said as she stood up, slowly approaching Barbara, her tone softer and more playful. "This was... a lot of fun. But I don't think I want any more. The laser isn't interesting anymore."
Barbara looked at her, a soft smile on her lips. "Would you like me to treat you like a kitten then?" —he asked in a whisper, lowering his voice a little.
Selina stared at her for a moment, and then, without warning, she leaped toward her, gently pushing her back until Barbara found herself lying on the bed, surrounded by the warmth of Selina, who had settled in beside her.
"I think this kitty has a few demands," Selina said with a mischievous smile as she leaned against Barbara, her head resting on her chest. In that moment, she seemed as soft and peaceful as a kitten curling up for cuddles.
Barbara gently stroked Selina's blonde hair, playing with the strands as if they were golden threads. She didn't need any more words; the connection between them was so strong, so clear, that every gesture and every glance spoke for itself.
"Tell me, kitty," Barbara said with a smile, her fingers running over the softness of her skin. "What else do you need?"
Selina closed her eyes, enjoying the caress as she snuggled closer.
"Just a little affection... and maybe a couple of cuddles," she whispered, before letting out a small sigh, as if she could finally relax.
Barbara held her a little tighter, tenderly, as the hours slowly passed. Gotham was still breathing, but inside that room, there was only the soft murmur of cats, the sound of hearts beating gently in the stillness, and the quiet love that surrounded them.
Barbara's room was plunged into a comfortable silence, a silence that seemed to embrace the two women as the soft glow of the moon illuminated the room. Barbara's cats, completely relaxed, slept in the oddest places in the room. Bastet, the most mischievous cat, was stretched out on the chair by the desk; Hamlet, the gray tomcat, rested by the window, gazing out at the darkness of Gotham with his half-closed eyes; and Copernicus curled up next to Selina and Barbara, as if also accepting the peace that had begun to fill the atmosphere.
Selina, the always indomitable woman, was now lying on Barbara's chest, her head resting gently on the young woman's heart, listening to the slow, steady beat that, at that moment, felt like a melody. Her golden eyes, usually so vibrant and full of life, now displayed an almost unusual calm. The gestures of struggle, evasion, and resistance that defined the famous Catwoman seemed to have completely vanished. In their place, a sweet and vulnerable stillness had taken its place.
Barbara, with a soft, tender smile, stroked Selina's hair, gliding through the blonde strands that cascaded through her fingers. She felt the warmth of her body close to hers, the softness of her skin, and for the first time in a long time, she felt a peace she didn't usually find in the turmoil of her daily life. Each caress was like a whisper in the early morning, calming the rebellious cat, taming her with care and affection.
"You look different..." Barbara murmured, her voice full of softness, not wanting to break the spell they shared at that moment.
Selina raised her head, her gaze meeting Barbara's. There was something so deeply human, so sincere in that gaze that even Selina, the woman who had always played with the shadows, felt completely exposed. It was a strange feeling, as if Gotham City suddenly no longer held power over her, as if she no longer had to hide, as if she could simply be Selina, without the claws and shadows of her life as a thief.
"How do you see me now?" Selina asked, her tone as low as a caress. There was a hint of vulnerability in her voice, something rare for her, something only a few people had been privileged to hear.
Barbara smiled, her blue eyes shining with the warmth only she could convey. She lifted a hand and gently stroked Selina's cheek, her fingers tracing a delicate path along the lines of her face.
"I see you as the woman who's stopped running away," Barbara replied, her voice full of sweetness. "I see you as my mischievous kitten, who learned to stay still, at least for a while."
Selina closed her eyes at Barbara's words, immersed in the sensation of that touch, so gentle, so full of affection. She knew she wasn't an easy woman to tame, but there was something about Barbara, about her demeanor, that made her feel safe, that made her want to surrender to this new way of being in the world, a way she had never imagined. A way that, for the first time, didn't include running away or hiding.
The cats, as always, seemed to have a special connection with her. Copernicus, who until then had been napping on the blanket, slowly got up and approached where they were, brushing his head against Selina's leg in a gesture of acceptance. Bastet, who was so close to the window, gently jumped onto the bed, snuggling up to Selina's side, as if recognizing her as part of the family.
Barbara looked at the scene with a satisfied smile. Barbara's cats, who had always been so demanding of people, now accepted her as one of their own. There was something magical about that moment: as if Selina's affection was being accepted by the small felines, as if they too could feel that, like them, Selina had the right to rest, to put aside her wild nature for a moment and allow herself to be pampered.
"I think you've already earned their affection," Barbara said tenderly, looking at the cats huddled around her. "They're very selective, you know. Not everyone gets their approval."
Selina smiled, a gesture that was both proud and grateful. She reached out a hand, stroking Copernicus's soft head with a gesture that, although slightly uncertain, showed how far she had come in her process of acceptance.
"I don't know what to do with such tenderness," Selina said in a low tone, as if surprised by herself. She looked at Barbara with an expression that could be interpreted as gratitude or a silent confession, but was actually a mixture of both.
Barbara smiled, and Selina's caress of her hair became deeper, more intimate. It was a touch that spoke volumes, a gesture of love that needed no words.
"Let yourself be loved, Selina," Barbara murmured, with a softness that seemed to envelop them both in a bubble of calm and security. "Let yourself be pampered. You deserve it."
Selina looked at her, as if she were truly considering those words, as if for the first time in her life she could allow herself to be cared for. She snuggled closer to Barbara, burying her face in her chest, surrounded by the soft lavender scent that Barbara's room always had, so warm and comforting at the same time.
The minutes passed in that perfect silence, where only the soft purring of the cats and Barbara's heartbeat could be heard, like a distant but constant echo. The love in the air was palpable, and despite Gotham's darkness, inside that room, everything seemed to glow with a warm, soft light, full of promise.
Selina closed her eyes, her body relaxed, for the first time in a long time without the constant feeling of alertness that had always accompanied her. In that moment, she wasn't the thief, she wasn't the indomitable woman. She was simply Selina, the woman who had allowed herself to be captured by a love that asked for nothing in return.
Barbara continued to stroke her hair, smiling as she held her gently. Her face held a peaceful expression, as if the whole world had stopped spinning just for that night. The cats slept around them, as if everything was in its place.
The peace of Gotham seemed to fade outside the window, and for the first time in a long time, the city no longer seemed so dark. Because inside that room, two souls had found each other, had accepted each other, and now, finally, they could rest together.
