selina kyle, the catwoman. (kleptomaniacal) wrote in gothamknights, @ 2008-09-30 01:33:00 |
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Entry tags: | bruce wayne, selina kyle |
LOG: Batman & Catwoman.
summary. [September 29, 2008] Catwoman's waiting to make an unconventional move. Batman makes the long stakeout a little more bearable.
Catwoman. The scene below was typical of Gotham nightlife: cars sped up and down the streets that ran between the rows upon rows of buildings, an occasional horn sounding as drivers lost their patience with those who waited a second longer than was necessary to take the green light. A small handful of dark figures were still visible walking along the sidewalks, and other, bundled shadows slept hunched against buildings or in the alleyways, huddled for safety with the dumpsters. In another half hour, anyone with a place to go would leave the streets.
Several stories above the scene, up on the flat edge of a rooftop, another shadow -- this one in a cat costume -- lounged leisurely, head propped up with one hand as Catwoman watched a high-rise apartment on the far end of a complex. Every night at eleven thirty, Charles Robertson bravely -- or perhaps stupidly -- stepped out onto his balcony for a smoke. After flinging the cigarette down toward the ground, he would retreat back into his apartment, and later the light would click off for the evening. Tonight wasn't about a jewelry thrill for Selina: it was a mission that might have exposed her as somewhat softer than her claws would let on, and the final trip of several she'd made specifically to Charles and Annie Robertson's apartment, where she'd slowly gained the necessary trust of three mistreated, frequently kicked and beaten household cats.
Fortunately, as far as Catwoman knew, no one was around to witness potential evidence of her having a soul. Except, perhaps, the grey tabby that stood five feet away, licking its forepaw intently. Selina turned from her close observation of the balcony in question to eye her date for the evening. The creature's action was deceptively disarming: cats, especially strays such as this, who had long since lost trust of others and kept their distance, were ever-vigilant. The animal's ears pricked as Selina adjusted her posture slightly, stretching her legs to feel the pull she wanted in her calf muscles, but it didn't cease its evening bath.
Finally, after several minutes had passed, the cat rose on its haunches and yawned widely, displaying two rows of sharp, tiny teeth. Catwoman's mauve-lipsticked mouth curved into a smile in the dark before the woman turned back to the balcony. "You and me both," she remarked, noting the continued absence of her target.
Batman. Batman had been waiting for his return to the mission -- more than impatience, he just wanted to get out of the Cave and out from under the watch of that pretty little bodyguard Lucius Fox hired. Tonight was his first night back -- he left his sling and frustration over his new living situation at home. And after apprehending a few low-level crimes, he had spotted Selina Kyle on a rooftop above him and made an effort to find her later when things were calmer. It had been awhile.
He stood still as death on the far side of the building, cloaked by shadows and out of her sight. It wasn't until the sole of his boot shifted on the concrete that the cat keeping Selina company knew something was amiss. As he stepped off the roof's edge and onto its surface, the cat scurried away. Batman barely tilted his head to see it off in the direction it headed.
"I hope I'm interrupting," his voice cut through the nighttime air behind her. It appeared she was staking out a place. Perhaps she was waiting for her mark to retire for the evening. In any case, Batman did not make any sudden movements in her direction just yet.
Catwoman. Selina watched as the cat shot off in a streak of grey, then used her arms to raise her torso immediately, potentially ready to bolt. Behind nightvision goggles, her gaze locked on the caped figure stalking toward her, but as soon as he spoke, she rose in a graceful, non-hurried manner. She'd know that low, gutteral voice anywhere. How many times had he interrupted her over the past eleven years, whether she wanted him to or not?
"My kind of interruption."
Standing, she removed her whip from her waist. Her posture was as relaxed as her tone as she walked slowly toward him, whip slithering through her gloves casually. "But no chase tonight. I'm not here to play," she informed him, stopping a couple of feet short from her long-time pursuer. The coy smile reappeared, free hand settling on her hip. It was an odd monologue to transpire between a criminal and a vigilante, but then again, both Catwoman and Batman had been aware of the mutual attraction between them for a long time. They knew they enjoyed chasing each other. There were nights when he was seriously after her, and then there were nights like these -- now -- that she knew she wasn't at any risk of being thrown in the slammer.
Batman. He had grown quite aware how sometimes she liked to be interrupted by the Batman. Sometimes she wanted to get caught. "Consider it a proactive measure," a smirk barely tugged at his mouth. He took a step toward her, his shoulders square. Batman really did not relax, especially when he was suited up and standing across from a known criminal -- no matter her good intentions on any given evening or how beautiful she was. "Serious business then?" He sounded unsurprised at that, his tone even. Despite her little midnight jewel runs, Batman knew her to defend the helpless in this part of town and he wouldn't get in her way if that were the case. He was only curious as to the manner of the business.
Catwoman. Her voice was low, amused. "The moment you accurately accuse me of 'serious business,' I've gotten old." It didn't exactly answer the question, but either way, she was neither in the act of stealing, nor was she leaving the scene of a crime. He couldn't arrest her for anything. Behind the nightvision goggles, her gaze shifted toward the balcony -- it appeared the door was finally sliding open. She would have a while.
"You last checked in weeks ago." She rested one hip against the wall casually. "Fortunately for me, I've always enjoyed my role as just another single girl out on the town. Unhindered. No jail sentences." She was every bit a woman.
Batman. If serious business was any indicator of age, then clearly Batman was very very old. That did not mean he did not look forward to their little chases or even a calm moment like tonight. It was refreshing to be with someone in the moment, even if for only a little while. There could be no expectations and they leave afterward -- him to some other crime scene and her sometimes with the police. But he would be lying if he didn't somewhat hope to see her grace the horizon on any given evening.
It was no secret with his little network that Catwoman did things to him that made him act a little out of character, disappearing to chase her by himself. He couldn't help it -- there was that attraction and her kisses left him feeling a little bit warmer for a little while. Maybe that was why he kept coming back. "Sounds like you missed me," Batman replied in a wry tone, his eyes staying on her.
Catwoman. "Typical." Her tone was idle, dry. "You're as presumptuous and boorish as ever." Selina detached herself from the wall in one small movement, taking a step closer to close the distance between them. One claw extended itself from her right index finger with a click as it slid out of place. Selina touched the tip of it against the Kevlar, now that he was within reach. Slowly, just light enough to leave the shallowest of trails in the suit, the finger was dragged down. "Night life isn't what it used to be in this city. No titillating bar brawls, no do-gooding capes plotting to get their hands on me, no fumbling police chases down the alley-stretch." She took yet another step, all but against his breastplate.
Batman. A smirk slowly grew on Batman's face, his eyes lowering to examine her face more closely. He stayed right where he was, not moving away from her but not moving closer either. His voice was lower, losing its hard edge against her proximity. He plotted to get his hands on her. He has just been busy with other things, Selina. "That seems hardly my fault." Batman was fully aware that Selina could make her nights exciting in those way if she wanted. That was not on him but on her.
Catwoman. Starting bar brawls was difficult when everyone was afraid of you. Cop chases were hard to attract when everyone was more interested in the real town crazies. And Selina's favorite cape had been checked out of the vigilante patrol register for weeks. Call her a quitter, but the lack of city attractions had inspired her to seek something more exotic in Sao Paolo. She had a briefcase hidden carefully in one of her stash-spots -- the assortment of tasteful artifacts inside were testament to exactly how much of a vacation Brazil had been.
"The night's still young." Selina snaked the whip around his neck, until the hilt was held in one hand and the tail-end of the whip held in the other. The device was tightened and pulled gently until Batman was forced to bend closer. A glance was cast discreetly at the smoking Robertson through her peripheral vision, but a moment later, Selina smiled, her attention presumably on Batman again. Their faces were inches apart. "I have enough time," she murmured. "And so do you."
The bravado was gone. The flirting and challenging was gone. For a fleeting moment, she was allowing herself to be Selina, rather than Catwoman.
And with that, she rose a couple of inches on her toes to arrest his mouth in a kiss, grip on the whip loosening as the tail slid out from her palm.
Batman. This was why he was here. And while it may have been more desperate if it followed by the heat of a chase, this was kiss was far from lacking. A throaty groan sounded as he deepened the kiss, his hands moving to grab her upper arms before one hand slid around her waist to pull her flush against him. After having not seen her for weeks, he might dare say he missed her -- but he would only admit to missing their brief moments together. It was a game they had played for years and it had become a comfort on these nights.
He kissed her eagerly. Batman's hand slide further around her waist, briefly pausing at the small of her back before he wrapped his entire arm around her. His other arm soon followed suit. He had a firm hold of her and had no intention of letting her go so soon. She was not going to get away too easily.
Catwoman. One hand crept from behind Bruce's neck to cup one side of his face, taking care not to pierce his skin with her claws. Through the leather, Selina felt the breastplate against her front. There were moments when she wished the Bat could feel more real, without the armor and assorted defenses he wore to protect himself. Nonetheless, she was aware that under everything, there was a man -- and from that man, she wanted more. Too bad he would never consent to taking off his mask for her.
One leg lifted reflexively, from the intensity of the kiss. They were vulnerable when they did this. Anyone who'd wanted to kill two nuisances with one stone would have had no trouble putting them both out of commission. Fortunately, neither one had been followed tonight, and Selina took all she could in one kiss before pulling away slightly, lips swollen. "Through the years, we've made a good team, when we haven't been pushing each other off a roof." Her voice was breathy, heavier than before. "On the shallow level, we're a couple of costumed spooks with one hell of a night routine." She leaned closer to his mouth again, so close that if she spoke, her lips would brush his. "But don't we owe it to ourselves to look deeper?" Because waiting for an actual response (which was going to be negative) would have been something of a turn-off, Selina leaned in again, her lips soft against his.
Batman.Batman took a deep breath when she broke the kiss, one of his hands lifting to her face and his calloused thumb stroking her cheek. Her name rested on the tip of his tongue but he knew better than to say anything -- he has long done his research on everything Catwoman and knew that she was Selina Kyle. But that was as close as he would allow her to get -- a couple files on his computer, rooftop meetings, and stolen kisses. Anything closer and he would start to reevaluate a lot of things. He liked having her right where she was. It had gotten comfortable.
He didn't want to tell her no -- he knew better than that. She spoke the truth about them making a good team, a good pair. He just could not allow themselves that. He did not want to mess with something that was (in his mind) good. Her words repeated in his head as she kissed him again. Don't we owe it to ourselves to look deeper... Batman wasn't so sure about that.
He kissed her for another moment, his hand settling at the side of her neck and his thumb trails down her jaw. He cleared his throat, preparing to effectively kill the moment. "So what is it that you have planned tonight?"
Catwoman. Selina placed a hand over his own, undaunted. "I don't divulge my social calendar. Why? Were you going to invite a criminal on vigilante patrol?" She touched his cheek again, but only for a brief moment. Now that the moment was over, she released his hand and extricated herself from his grasp. Turning away, she reaffixed her whip to her side as she strode back toward the way she came, heels of her boots clicking on the concrete roof. Without turning her head, her gaze was discreetly cast back toward Robertson's apartment -- he was still smoking.
She didn't make any sudden moves to jump or run away, however, which was a sign that she was either in no hurry, or she simply wasn't up to anything tonight. Unfortunately, with distrusting types like Batman, you very rarely got away with the latter excuse.
Batman. And just like that, their moment was over. No more whispered words, Selina speaking to him in that tone of voice. It had passed and Batman could stand a little taller, grow a little more distant. It was easier to leave her this way rather than in the moment.
"You've been scoping out an apartment since before I got here," his voice lost the husky tone as soon as she moved away from him. Batman watched her, standing right where she left him. He had noticed her subtle glances and didn't mind them. "I only wanted to know if it was something that would lead me to chase you five blocks before the police come."
Catwoman. Five? Give her some credit, Bruce. She's much harder to catch than that. She didn't look back immediately, instead seemingly looking off toward the horizon, one hand still resting against her hip. Needless to say, she was supremely unconcerned. Something more important would catch his eye, and he'd leave her to her business.
Finally, she turned to look over her shoulder, touching the outer rim of her goggles in a mock salute. "No. No looting tonight." The smile was implied in her words. "I'm not in the mood for wearing you down." Well, it was half-true. The stakes were considerably lower tonight, when her intention wasn't to plunder gems. That didn't, however, mean she could guarantee she wouldn't steal something during her visit. Break-ins, depending on the quality of items within, were a lot like shopping -- sometimes you went in with the intention of just having a look. Maybe you went in with a plan to grab a black handbag or a pair of jeans, then leave. But for Selina, certain types of merchandise were harder to resist than others. And when the pickings were free, what person with an eye for opportunity could refuse?
Batman. He heard enough. When she wasn't looking, he moved to the edge and glanced over the edge. He would be in the area if she did indeed turn this into a crime. He took one last look at her before silently leaping, disappearing from the scene. Out of earshot, he reestablished the communication link back to Oracle. "O, I'm back online."
Catwoman. When no further response came, Selina glanced curiously over her shoulder again, only to find she was staring at empty space. Someone who might have been looking closely would have noticed a startled expression flash across her face, mouth parting slightly as she walked to the edge of the roof, glancing down. Only the glaring tail lights of passing cars met her field of vision, the traffic much more sparse now that late evening had set in.
Some day, she'd find out how he was able to disappear into thin air like that.