Jack Kadere watched as Catwoman's signature smirk slowly curled on her lips.
If Talia al Ghul wanted him dead—and she very likely did—then she probably also wanted to recover what he had 'stolen'. So, who in Gotham could get close to him without raising alarms and also had the skills to pull off a theft?
Who else but Selina Kyle?
More importantly, he had never actually wronged her. Their only real interaction had been back at Blackgate Penitentiary, shortly after he arrived in this world. Now, though, she was standing at his front door like a scorned wife searching for a runaway husband. Something wasn't adding up.
Talia had sent China White to kill him—direct action. And Catwoman? She was clearly the thief in the shadows. One attack visible, the other hidden. Two separate missions. Either outcome would get Talia what she wanted and free her from Jack's leverage.
As Jack pieced it all together, Selina Kyle studied him with a raised eyebrow. Her voice dripped with mock resentment. "Aren't you going to invite me in? I've been standing out here forever just so your little tech genius girlfriend doesn't get the wrong idea."
Jack stepped aside. "Come in."
Selina strolled in, giving the room a once-over with her usual feline grace.
Bang! The door shut behind her.
She turned and laughed lightly. "Who would've thought that the guy who killed Bane would be shacking up in a place like this with some civilian girl? Cozy little—cough! What are you—let go of me!"
She didn't even get to finish.
Jack's hand shot forward, clamping tightly around her throat and lifting her off the ground in one smooth motion. Her eyes went wide in shock as her body dangled, feet scrambling for the floor. The pressure on her neck was immediate and unrelenting.
"Let... go... I... can't..." she choked, clawing at his wrist.
"Is this supposed to be funny?" Jack asked, his voice low and cold.
"Wha... what? I don't—know what you mean... I—can't... breathe...!"
"Do you think being pretty gets you out of everything? That a nice face makes it okay to lie, to steal, to manipulate?" Jack's voice was quiet but laced with venom. "You think I'll forgive you just because of that?"
Selina's breath hitched. That look in his eyes—he wasn't bluffing. He was completely serious. She tried to kick him, but Jack yanked her closer, rendering her legs useless. Their faces were now just inches apart.
Then, suddenly, he smiled.
"All of that? It's true."
"Ah—?"
Selina Kyle froze midair as Jack Kadere suddenly let her go. She dropped to the floor with a thud, knees buckling beneath her.
"Cough... cough!" she gasped, clutching her throat. Her chest heaved as she fought to breathe, her wide green eyes burning with fury. "You're insane! You almost choked me to death!"
Jack shrugged nonchalantly. "It was just a joke."
"A joke? You almost killed me!" she snapped, pushing herself upright with a wince. Her voice cracked with outrage.
Jack gave a half-smile, his voice slow and deliberate. "You had the nerve to come here and try to steal from me. So what if I choked you to death... as a joke?"
The room went silent.
Selina Kyle, usually quick with a comeback, now sat stunned. Her mind raced, a creeping sense of dread rising in her chest.
He knew.
He actually knew.
Her body tensed, ready to bolt, but Jack casually walked over and poured himself a glass of water. Then, surprisingly, he handed it to her.
"Can't you take a joke?" he asked, his tone maddeningly light.
Selina glared at the offered glass, refusing to take it. Her fingers twitched with restrained anger. "A joke? You're a walking red flag. Who the hell knows when you're serious and when you're not? You're a sociopath."
She wanted to scream it out loud, but she bit her tongue.
Jack sighed. "No sense of humor," he muttered—then unceremoniously poured the water over her head.
Cold water splashed across her face and hair. Selina jumped, blinking hard, her lips trembling with rage and humiliation.
"You—"
"Wanna guess if that was a joke?" Jack asked with a slight tilt of his head, eyes narrowing with mischief.
Selina's eyes widened, then her fury erupted.
"Jack Kadere, you maniac! You knew why I was here, and you still let me walk in? You let me walk into a trap so you could play games with me?!"
Jack grinned. "Exactly. I was messing with you."
"I'll kill you!" Selina shouted, lunging at him.
But Jack had already anticipated it. With effortless grace, he sidestepped, letting her momentum carry her forward.
She stumbled, landed hard, and tried to spring back up—only to grunt in pain as Jack casually stepped on her chest, pinning her to the floor.
He crouched slightly, gazing down at her with a smirk.
"Getting angry and flipping the table? You must've forgotten something important... you can't beat me."
Selina's anger fizzled, replaced by grim silence. She turned her face away, seething, but no longer fighting.
Jack lifted his foot and walked back to the couch, sinking into it as if nothing had happened.
He leaned back lazily and asked without looking at her, "So… what did she offer you? What deal did Talia make to get you on her side?"
Selina lay still for a moment, breathing heavily.
She realized then: she was already losing this game.
And Jack Kadere hadn't even broken a sweat.