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Weeks gone by since their holiday in Italy. Selina still felt sore. It was a pleasing sort of ache.
Now it was back to the steel and stone of Gotham. Selina eyed the towers looming overhead, imagining herself leaping across rooftops. She imagined the pumping of her legs, the thumping of her heart, yearning for that rush. But she wasn't Catwoman then. Out of her suit, without her gear, a plastic shopping bag hanging from her arm. Just an ordinary woman heading home from the pharmacy.
Even so, she felt like she was gliding. Flying, almost. Her heart, her belly, her nerves, all fluttering. The closer she got to her apartment, the stronger the excitement grew.
Her boots clapped against the sidewalk. Everyone else was just a shade, fading into shapes around her. Selina's focus was singular.
Get home. Get confirmation.
The rest of the walk blurred into a daze. Opening her apartment door was like stepping into clarity. She flipped on the lights, letting the cozy warmth of home sweep over her. Her cats were there to welcome her, too. Black and brown and striped things, all purring and rubbing against her ankles.
Selina smiled as she crouched down, running her hands over each and every one of them.
"Aw, did you miss me?" She cooed. "Mama's back now."
Unfortunately, the snuggles had to be cut short. Selina had business to take care of. She kicked off her boots, set her purse aside, and headed for the bathroom - the shopping bag remained slung over her arm. It swung loose and light as she walked. She only bought one thing.
A tiny box, barely bigger than her phone. Pink and white. Selina's belly fluttered again as she held it. Then she felt queasy.
Selina swallowed, fighting the urge to gag. Soon her stomach settled. The excitement returned quickly. A buzz over her skin.
Something had changed. Selina knew it, deep in her bones. Ever since her getaway with Roman…
Now that she was back from the pharmacy, she would know for certain. She stared at the little pink and white box in her hand, reading the label over and over again.
"Well… no point wasting time."
She opened the box. Fished out the contents. Long, thin white tabs, three of them. Selina picked one and went to the toilet. She slid her pants down and sat. She waited. Waited until she had to go. Then… release.
It was a little awkward, holding the tab there as she did her business. Even as the buzz ran over her body, Selina wondered. It was fifty-fifty. Yes or no. Which answer did she crave?
When the trickle stopped, Selina didn't move at first. She simply stared ahead, breathing steadily. She could feel her heart thumping in her chest. Ba-dump. Ba-dump. Ba-dump. A beating drum.
She brought the tab out from between her legs. Eventually she dared to look. Her eyes fixed on the results. She read it over again and again and again until it burned into her brain.
Two lines. Positive.
Pregnant.
For a long, long moment, Selina was silent. The buzz had turned to numbness. It felt like her heart had stopped.
A smile broke across her face.
- - -
It was a slow night in Gotham. So slow that a peculiar sight had Bruce's full focus. A dark, lithe figure leaping across the city rooftops.
Quick. Graceful. Familiar. Yet this was the first Bruce had seen of her in the last few months.
Catwoman was back in town. Normally, she would have been a welcome sight. Yet she hadn't called, given no heads up. Not a single word of warning. The rumors were even more troubling. Bruce was sure it was just gossip bullshit, of course. Still… the urge to follow her was strong. It was only right to check up on her.
Bruce pushed off the stone ledge, his black cape flaring out as he fell into a glide. Tailing Catwoman was easy. Routine. He'd played this game dozens of times.
It wasn't just the elegance and effortless flow of her movement that caught his eye. Like always, she was clad all in black. The material was snug to her impeccable body, glossy in a way that made it seem like it was painted on. Every curve and contour lovingly clung to, nothing hidden. Especially about the hips and legs.
He watched her slow down into a slinking prowl. She must have heard him coming. By the time he touched down on the same rooftop, she'd stopped entirely, turning to face him.
Bruce stood and approached, each step calm and measured.
"Cat."
"Batman." Selina held up her chin as she stared him down. Bruce read tension in her body to match the edge in her voice. Odd. "I'm afraid I don't have time for our usual games."
Under the cowl, Bruce kept a stony look. He tried to read Selina further, noting well the absence of her usual playfulness.
"Heading somewhere?"
"As a matter of fact, yes."
She sounded disinterested. Even annoyed. But why?
The rumors flashed through his head again. Bruce ignored the unwelcome stirring in his gut and pressed on.
"It's been a while." He said, letting the words hang.
"It has." Chilled. Noncommittal.
Bruce's advance kept on but slowly. The fact that she hadn't bolted already was a good sign. Then again, making things into a chase was how Selina usually liked to play.
"I haven't heard a peep about heists or burglaries. Not for weeks now."
"I've been busy." Selina answered flatly. She turned from him then, but did not flee. Instead, she began to strut.
Bruce watched her as she moved. The cold shoulder treatment couldn't chill the allure of her stride. One leg before the other, perfect in balance and grace - though not nearly as perfect as the loving tightness of her suit. It was almost enough to make Bruce forget himself.
"I caught some troubling rumors, though." His voice dropped. Serious now. But not accusing.
That drew a snort from the black-clad thief. A smile now spread across her face. Full lips in dark, glossy red. Her look was devious, but also cutting. The sharpness was in her eyes as well. There was no warmth there, nor any sign of the expected playfulness. It managed to bother him.
"Did you?" Selina sounded amused, though in a way that hinted at a joke Bruce wasn't in on. He pushed that feeling aside and kept pressing. Driven by the urge to know.
"Rumors that Selina Kyle started running with some bad company. Getting close to a mob head. Roman Sionis."
Selina was snickering now. Bruce had come to a halt, looking on grim-faced as the thief walked the edge of the rooftop. A model's strut, the subtle sashay of her hips too alluring to be anything but intentional. She was teasing him - but this display, Bruce found, was layered with mockery.
"Mmmm." The temptress hummed, linking her gloved fingers and stretching her arms high above her head. A wistful sigh flowed from her lips, familiar and full of want. Then she set upon him with that sharp gaze again and the warmth vanished. "Bad company? Not in the slightest. Strenuous, maybe. Definitely exhausting."
Bruce went tight-lipped. She was trying to provoke him, he quickly realized. Though for what reason, he just didn't know. Their last encounter had been anything but poor. Still, the bite in her words still stunned him.
Confusion seeped into his mind. Selina was a risk-taker. He knew better than anyone how much she loved the thrill. He also knew she wasn't stupid. Black Mask, for all his influence and wealth, didn't possess any prize worth cozying up for. Jewels and diamonds, Selina might try to swipe from his private vault. But to be seen as his arm candy, clinging to him in the clubs… What did the man have that compelled Selina Kyle to play the pretty bimbo?
It didn't matter. Now there was frustration welling up inside. Of all the stupid risks to take…
Bruce didn't stomp forward, but he may as well have with the glower he wore.
"Roman Sionis isn't some easy mark, Selina." He growled. "He's a dangerous man. A killer. And this isn't a game. You could get hurt… or worse."
Selina hadn't moved and her expression hadn't changed. Either she didn't get it or she didn't care. The truth, as Bruce would quickly realize, was much more sickening. Selina turned those disinterested green eyes upon him once more. Now they smoldered… but somehow Bruce knew the look wasn't for him.
"The only time Roman has ever hurt me… was when I begged for it." She spoke slowly, sultrily. She wanted him to hear every word.
Bruce recoiled. Thanks to his discipline, it was but a half-step back - but compared to his usual self-control it may as well have been a horrified gasp. Otherwise, the shock didn't show on his face. Inside, however, was a violent whirlwind.
The idea of Selina willingly putting herself close to Black Mask was disturbing enough. But the thought of her getting that close… It was like a stone straight down to the pit of his stomach.
Another cackle ripped through the air. Selina was delighted by his reaction. The way her eyes glittered, gleeful and amused, as if she could read his thoughts.
"I guess I have to come clean now." She continued her shameless strut, hips working side to side. "I've been fucking him."
The words were a slap to the face. Even more followed.
"As often as I can, as long as I can, as hard as I can. Because he's got something most other men just can't offer me. Do you know what that is?"
The wicked joy upon her pretty face cut even deeper now. Cut Bruce right down to the bone. He remained silent, grimacing… though that only seemed to please Selina all the more.
The temptress glided forward now, looking Bruce dead in the eye. Unafraid, unrepentant. Her dark red lips sounded out each word.
"A huge fucking cock."
The silence that followed stretched on for a long, unbearable time. What could Bruce even say to that? Selina held her chin high, looking so proud of herself.
"Spare me the judgmental look." She eventually bit out. "For me, it really is that simple. We both know what kind of woman I am. There's nothing left to say."
She backed towards the edge of the rooftop. Her smirk was pleased and mocking.
"Another time, Bat. But probably not."
The tension that snapped through her body told Bruce that she was about to leap. Even with the weight of his heavy heart, he felt a sudden urge to stop her. It was reflex, truthfully. They'd played this game so many times. How could it end now?
Bruce moved quickly, reaching for her arm.
"Cat, wait!"
"Don't touch me!"
The ferocity of her snarl was shocking. But not near as shocking as the speed of her deflection. There was the glint of metal as her hand swiped his arm away. Then came the sting. Bruce retreated, clutching his gauntlet. Catwoman's claws had sliced right through the material, all the way down to his skin.
Not simply a warning, like she'd shown before. This was true anger.
Bruce frowned as he met Selina's eyes one last time.
He'd never seen her so furious before.
"I never belonged to you." She spat.
Then she was gone. Over the edge, sweeping down into the bowels of Gotham. Bruce said nothing as he followed her black silhouette streaking across the tower lights. Going. Going. Gone.
All he could do was watch.