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Post by grimknight on Mar 29, 2012 6:33:58 GMT -5
It had been well past Batman’s 3 minute warning to Catwoman stating for her to collect whatever things she needed and then get ready to board the Batwing upon his immediate arrival. He had placed a tracker signal her cell phone the moment she placed a call to Bruce Wayne’s cell phone, honing in on her precise location via satellite link navigation through the jet’s computer console. She was at some restaurant about 5 minutes away from his travelling location—and he was 100% certain she was spending her time out on the town as savvy business woman and animal activist Selina Kyle, rather than as master thief and current partner to the Bat, Catwoman. The Riddler had been contained with extreme efficiency through metal binds, steel-laced locks, and pumped with heavy sedatives which would keep him unconscious for the next 48 hours, give or take. He kept Edward Nigma in a hidden containment holding cell within a secure compartment of his hover jet—all wrapped up and ready for express delivery back to Gotham’s authorities and justice. The Bat still needed to rescue Jimmy Gordon and apprehend Riddler’s girlfriend, Dr. Nina Stenet—but those missions couldn’t be accomplished until he regrouped with Catwoman first.
From far above and quite unnoticed to the naked eye or high functioning radar for that matter, the Batwing hovered silently, hidden by cloud cover, right over the restaurant he tracked Selina’s cell phone to. There he saw Nina assisting Selina into a cab, Selina barely able to stand on her own two feet—let alone sit with grace in the back seat of that cab. Then it clicked; the random phone call to Bruce’s cell, the avoidance of his comm-link messages… She had been hanging with Nina, apparently enjoying a friendly night out on the town and was now utterly sloshed and beyond coherence. Great. Just what the Bat needed, another calamity he would have to take responsibility over. He needed Selina alert, in control—hell, he needed her SOBER considering she was his back-up, his partner, during this high stakes mission. Sobriety was not going to happen with Selina tonight… And as much as the Dark Knight hated to admit it, Nina wasn’t nearly as terrible as some of the Gotham rogues and their henchmen could be.
Jimmy Gordon, he knew was in the doctor’s care and she had no history of murder or unprovoked violence on her hands. She was just guilty by association, guilty for aiding and abetting a criminal to conduct his deadly schemes, guilty for sitting by and doing nothing while innocents around her suffered due to her boyfriend’s psychotic antics. Jimmy was alive, Nigma had insinuated as such, and he 99% certain Jimmy was in Nina’s custody—which meant the boy would be okay, for now. But come first thing in the morning—once his signal tracker managed to produce Nina’s exact location—there would be massive amounts of hell to pay. Dr. Nina Stenet would be faced with the wrath of the Bat and all that came with it. That was tomorrow though, early in the morning. As for right now this night? Well…
How long had it been since the Bat had slept? Three days? Four? Hell, he had been in the same bat-suit for four days without taking a semblance of a shower. Upon following Selina’s cab back to their own hidden safehouse by the city’s docks, he decided he would “rest” for a few hours, clean up, watch over Selina, and then finish the mission first thing in the morning. Riddler would be fine in the containment cell, he’d still be passed out from the sedatives until the day after tomorrow at least. The Gotham rogue was left in the holding compartment of the Batwing; the hover jet now docked and hidden from plain sight, refueled and re-charged. Once he entered the safehouse he took care to notice where Selina ended up collapsing—good, she had passed out on her bed.
He then took a few brief moments to shower and take care of his own human needs like bathroom time and getting a bite to eat, he eventually changed into his fresh, spare bat-suit. It wasn’t the most comfortable attire to wear, but it was practical. Not only did the suit kept his identity well-guarded, but it also ensured he’d be ready to go and take on the vigilante role all over again in just a few hours’ time. In truth, Batman was who he really was, and in truth… He did find the bat-suit eerily comforting as well as comfortable. It was the mask of Bruce Wayne that made him skirmish and feel out-of-place. Knowing this dark truth about himself, he now gazed upon the face of the woman behind the Cat… Selina. He had never thought to suspect, never a reason to question the “extra-curricular activities” this smart, savvy, and successful business woman partook in during her free time.
"Animal activist... Heh, Right.”
His silent murmur scoffed out loud to an audience that consisted of himself and an unconscious, heavily intoxicated Selina Kyle. He then took to making sure she was comfortable by placing a cool damp cloth over her forehead as well as placed her in a more comfortable position, removing her shoes and covering her up a little. And of course, he would provide her with some powerful drugs tomorrow to help dull out the hangover she would be sure to suffer from once she woke up. For now however, he would watch over her protectively, staying true to the role of being the ever silent guardian he was known for. Under his watch and care, he would make sure she would be alright for the rest of this night. And yet…
He couldn’t help but wonder, sitting there on her bed corner beside her in the darkness of her room… Was she like he? Was Selina Kyle the mask and Catwoman the true woman beneath? Or was Catwoman simply the person who captured Batman’s complete attention? And was Selina Kyle simply the woman who managed to finally capture Bruce Wayne?
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Post by selinakyle on Mar 29, 2012 7:20:11 GMT -5
Nina had been kind to her. Helping her into the cab. And from the point of exiting the cab, paying, and how the hell she had returned back into the well sequestered rooms in the warehouse were beyond her. After dropping her bag, and phone on the bed she had rather carefully picked her way to the door that had kept her from the man on the other side, and picked the lock. As it was, even as she was thoroughly inebriated, she still kept some of her wits about her. After her own lock had popped open, she had tittered gleefully as she saw another door, with yet another lock to pick. A few moments later, and another pop-click had gained her entry.
But it wasn't about actually going in. It was the fact she could do it. And as it was, her mind was quite satisfied that she had gone through both locks in a quick, and timely amount of minutes. Pulling the other door shut-but not locking it, and then her own door to follow, she meandered around the quarters again, tugging open a drawer here, peeking there, and wandering for a bit, finally removing her shoes, and then sitting on the bed. Out of habit she gripped her phone in her right hand, settling on her side as she soon enough passed out; for a better lack of a word.
But even as Batman would check on her, it would seem as if she were just..sleeping. A woman, slumbering deeply in her dress. Nothing out of the ordinary screamed THIEF or even CATWOMAN, as she'd tucked her suit neatly away, alongside with her respective gadgetry and paraphernalia. Even in her alcohol induced slumber Selina's nose wrinkled as she shifted ever so slightly. Something stank, and she knew it.
But it wasn't until she heard a voice, and felt the shifting did she herself move. Selina knew her body. She'd been taught, and trained herself to know. So even during a bender or two before she'd done; she knew what would effect her. It was too bad Batman didn't know those triggers as well. As she was shifted, ever so gently, her hand would reach out, gripping his forearm. Again, she would react to the cool cloth on her forehead. Yes, she was deep in sleep, but she was still aware. Odd? Yes, to most. But hopefully Batman would find it telling of one of his most pedantic and irritating nocturnal foes.
It would be an hour, maybe two before she finally shifted enough of note. Fluttering eyelids thankfully met with a nearly darkened room. As she was on her side, it didn't take much for her to give herself a few seconds pause to make an attempt to orient herself-when she felt it. She wasn't alone in her room. Gasping, it didn't take her long to realise that was probably the worst thing to do in the state she was in.
Sadly, she hadn't remembered.
Jolting upright in the bed, the blanket he'd covered her with slipped, and as she had shifted, so did the figure. Instantly disoriented, she could feel the inertia in her stomach quickly shifting.
“Oh shit...” she had barely managed to get out in a choked cry, before the first wave of her prior date's meal started to come past her lips with a wet splat. A hand to her back, and a bucket before her barely stopped the second wave, and the third, she just knew by the sound it had hit whomever was helping her. Finally after several more bouts of retching did the nausea stop.
Blinking away the collected tears from the exertion, did it finally hit her who was there. Squinting once, then again after wiping the back of her hand against her eyes did she see in the near dark of her room who it was. Batman. Oh. Huh. Clearing her throat she smiled slightly, her hand going to his forearm again as a thank you. Sadly, her fingers touched a rather wet spot instead, and she recoiled, almost tipping herself off balance in the bed.
“Dammit.” She murmured, sighing as she knew she'd have to clean up. Or he would. Because he smelled worse, but not quite as bad as she felt. Sushi and alcohol were not as pleasant the second time around. Another sigh, and Selina would murmur an apology, sitting there almost as if they were on the rooftops, and he were about to admonish her for 'stealing.'
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Post by grimknight on Mar 29, 2012 9:06:30 GMT -5
Even though the Bat was exhausted from days on end of fighting, searching, travelling, and apprehending, sleep was not a luxury privy to the Dark Knight. He remained almost motionless, sitting on Selina’s bed, armored back resting against the headboard. He tuned into the faint sounds of her deep patterned breathing, his bio-scan reading giving him status checks on her vitals silently within the confines of his tech-laden cowl and digital specialized lenses sheathed within the eyeholes of his high-tech mask. It was almost comical to see a one man army, clad in a giant armored black bat-suit lined with so much protective gear and high-tech gadgetry—looking rigid, sharp, and ready to annihilate something, reclining next to a beautiful stylishly dressed woman who appeared to be in a deeply peaceful sleep—looking soft, vulnerable, unarmed and totally normal. Even beyond the bat-suit’s heightened senses, the man beneath was able to notice the most subtle of nuances about Selina. For example, despite her deep REM sleep she still seemed acutely aware of the damp cool cloth he had placed on her forehead as well as the blanket he tentatively covered her with.
She had a certain keen sense of self-awareness which was both fascinating and concerning to the Bat. Usually those who are so self-aware of their body being physically touched even in a state of deep sleep indicated signs of sexual abuse… A dark thought the Bat hated to even entertain, a dark detail he wished he didn’t happen to notice. But, being the superior detective he was, very, very, very little escaped his attention to detail. Then again, perhaps Selina had such a bodily self-awareness due to her mastered gymnastic skills and total body control when slinking in and out of tight spaces. Her cat-like physical prowess. He preferred to focus on that possibility—being finely tuned to her body due to her extensive training and physical skill as it didn’t cause his vision to suddenly see red and his blood pressure to suddenly spike, unlike the other more devastating and taboo possibility of being sexually abused. Either way, before he could dwell over her other interesting little quirks (like the fact that he noticed quite a few locks within the safehouse had been popped, including the lock to his own private room—behavior she apparently conducted while in her drunken state of mind) Selina suddenly appeared to arch right up, gasping—seemingly conscious.
It was then the wretched sound of dry heaving-turned-wet that was suddenly heard. The Bat moved like lightning, grabbing the nearest trash bin and positioning before Selina to help try and catch the alcohol induced vomit rather than let the sickness splash all over the place. His attempt to contain the situation was in vain; Selina was indeed pretty sick and there was no way an upheaval of sickness like the one she provided a front row seat form him to witness was going to be pretty. She got it everywhere—on his fresh and new spare bat-suit, her stylish slinky dress, the floor, her hair, the bed… Everywhere. And what did the Dark Knight, the Gotham Guardian, the mighty Batman do? He tried to pull her dark locks of silken hair away from her face and patted her back gently, tilting her some so she wouldn’t choke. The smell didn't phase him, dispite its unpleasant oder, nor did the scene before him--the Bat had been through way too much and far much worse to even begin to feel a slightest bit affected.
What he did feel deep within, he realized, was genuine concern for her... The small amount of empathy and compassion that was rarely ever let out from beneath his grim exterior now made itself known within. He just wanted her to be okay--he didn't mind having to deal with the clean up factor, not in the least bit. Although part of him was a little irked that he had just showered not too long ago and finally had managed to put on a fresh suit, yet here he was covered in throw up--he had been fresh and clean for a total of aproximately 2 hours. Such was the glamorous life of being the Dark Knight, right?
“It’s okay. Get it out, get it all out.” He spoke quietly to her as a means to help soothe her state of mind. Once she finally finished and sat back to catch her breath, the Bat watched her with his notorious stoic expression. “Feel better?”
His voice still dark, but much more quiet, less feral and gruff. He would need to change into yet another spare bat-suit, but first he would take care of Selina. “Let’s get you washed off.” He moved swiftly and took a tender hold of her slender, curved form—moving to lift her off the bed.
“I’m… Uh… Going to remove your dress—it’s got… You don’t want to wear it. Trust me. I’ll help you rinse in the shower and then get you right into a robe. Then you can go back to sleep.” He explained.
He began to work the backing of her dress, undoing the clasp or zipper or whatever the thing was, and started to carefully pull it down her shoulders. He could only hope she understood what he was doing and why considering there was no way he was about to let her go back to sleep in her own vomit. If it was anyone else? He may not have been so accommodating. But this wasn’t just Selina Kyle, this was also Catwoman—different rules always applied to her.
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Post by selinakyle on Mar 29, 2012 21:23:19 GMT -5
His gentle actions weren't wasted. Even if she was, those little movements of concern registered with her. From his jab at her extracurricular activities, to his urging her to do what she needed; all were filed away for later. Keenly aware of the stench now wafting about them, mostly due to her own actions, Selina scrunched her nose up.
“Ugh.” Was the little sound she emitted, his hand steadying her as she finally rocked back on the bed, almost too far as she caught herself from toppling. Eye-balling the shadowed form, she nodded slightly. Too much motion would set her off again.
As she listened to him, her eyes narrowed. Take -off- her dress? It was already cold out, and while her mind struggled to come up with the proper words, she found herself being guided to stand, his hands..removing her dress.
Her own hands pawed at him, lamely pressing against his chest. “It's cold outside. Go to the bathroom first, ok?” She murmured, making some sense despite the fog she was drifting through. All though the vomit-covered woman didn't quite resemble the svelte, aware Ms. Kyle, or the deviously be-grinned Catwoman, she was something purer. More distilled in her intoxication. Grabbing his hand in her own, she sought an anchor as she took one wobbly step, nearly falling as she pointed toward the bathroom, the strap of her dress falling over her shoulder.
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Post by grimknight on Apr 5, 2012 2:21:51 GMT -5
A dark brow arched, hidden, beneath the face of his black, ever-scowling, bat mask. Selina was still heavily under the influence and wouldn’t be sobering up for a couple more hours at the least. Given her inebriated state he took his time in how he moved about her, careful not to startle her or confuse her for fear of upsetting her, or worse, making her sick once again. As he moved to unzip the dress, only getting part of it down—he stopped and stepped back as she pushed him away. Her words came out in thick murmured slurs—still understandable, but definitely indicative of how much self-awareness and control she had at the present moment over the situation. He was hesitant to leave her there alone, let alone allow her to stumble her way haphazardly to the bathroom… Yet the situation would be easier if the shower was running and ready for her to use by the time she reached the small guest room’s bathroom.
“Stay there, I’ll get the shower started.”
The Bat made the few steps to the bathroom conveniently located within the guest room and soon enough the sound of the shower was suddenly heard. The water was made to a perfect warmth so as not to startle Selina, and within moments, Batman was back beside the woman before she could stumble any further towards the bathroom. He wrapped his arm about her slender waist, allowing her to lean completely on his rigidly black armored form for support. He then led the way to the bathroom. Once inside he was able to access the situation—he didn’t trust Selina alone in the shower. He would stand in the shower with her and help her. After all, one wrong slip and a night of innocent drinking could turn into a night of severe injury. Not to mention his own newly donned bat-suit was now covered in newly donned Selina vomit—he needed to rinse off and get out of his suit as well. Might as well kill two birds with one stone, right? Though the Bat was more than well aware of his undeniably extreme attraction to both Selina Kyle AND Catwoman, he would maintain complete respect and courtesy. In this light, he cared over her rather than lusted for her.
He peeled off the torso armor of his suit, followed by his tech-infused gloves, his bare chest now exposed. Also exposed on his chest, beyond the chiseled and steely muscles, were countless numbers of scars—all badges of the flesh, “medals” earned as the Batman. The armor stripped away, showing the man beneath, the cowl was also removed along with the mask—leaving a specialized secondary bandana-like mask cover beneath, still hiding his identity just as much as the bat-mask and cowl do. His hair was hidden beneath this felt mask; only his sharp jawline could be seen—giving away no real glimpse to the man behind the Bat. With the armor and cowl off, the Bat could move easier and now stepped into the shower, still clad in the black armored pants and boots of the bat-suit. His utility belt and cape had also been cast aside. He almost resembled a bare-chested ninja now, standing within the heated spray of the shower, holding out an ungloved hand for Selina to step inside.
Trying to get Selina to focus on the simple task of rinsing off as well as remain comfortable, he called out to her, bringing up a little inside pact the two of them had made on a rooftop in Gotham a few nights ago—a pact that dealt with trust being earned by a simple kiss that was in all actuality, anything but simple.
“Come on, I’m not looking. I’ve earned my trust with you, remember?”
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Post by selinakyle on Apr 5, 2012 7:11:23 GMT -5
It was never easy to corral a cat.
Most of all, Batman should know that. Gently pushing him away as she struggled, she stood rather shakily as he left her side for the briefest of moments. It was only when a different, less...harsh person came to her side did she offer this oddly clothed man a bright smile. One that not Selina, nor Catwoman had ever offered either men her persona's knew.
It was a simple task to walk the several strides to the bathroom, where even the steam of the heated water brought another grin to her face. Despite the rather stereotypical traits of the feline; she tended to adore water. Reaching a hand to this man, she gripped his forearm, hoping to get his attention.
“Some cats do like water, you know.” It was almost if his prior words hadn't stuck in her alcohol addled brain. And probably the best for him as she let him help her remove her dress, as well as her expensive undergarments as well. What may, or may not have shocked him was the slender blade that clattered to the tiled floor once she was fully freed of the vomit stained articles of clothing.
Jumping slightly, she was caught easily by the...man. Whomever he was, he was gentle. Kind even. As she followed him into the shower, she squawked lightly at the rush of water on her body, letting it warm her as she leaned backward, a hand tentatively reaching to the body behind her for an anchor.
“I called Bruce earlier..” She started, her eyes closed as she relished the warmth raining upon her. “But he was busy. He usually is. He's so dumb, at times...” She murmured, slowly; carefully pirouetting under the shower of water. “Bruce is fun. But he always is holding something back. Putting on an act. He's just amusement...”
As the words Batman had said to her on the rooftop finally travelled from her ears to understanding, she peeked at this...still masked man with her in the shower. “Batman said that to me.” Pausing, she took a step backward; further into the water. One hand still in his, her free hand wagged a finger at him. “You're not him, so don't use his words. He'd never expose that much to me. Catwoman.” Slowly opening her other eye, she shook her head, the spray of water plastering her hair to her shoulders and back.
“He wouldn't wear something so stupid. But...” As she stepped forward, Selina's fingertips traced several of the scars, lingering on one she had given him, but not recalling it. “...you seem familiar. And if you're going to quote his words, I might as well trust you. I think.” Her fingers tensed, almost in automatic response to wearing her claws night after night. Reaching up, not quite on tiptoe, but enough that her heels did rise from the shower floor, her fingers sought out his mask.
“Such an asinine thing. Why don't you just take it off?” Her fingers tried to wedge themselves between the edges of his mask, and his cheek, wanting the thing off. She was purely operating on what she could touch. What she could see. What she could feel right now. And this man; she didn't know him.
“Are you Marc? You're surely not Bruce. How would you know the trust Batman and I have? Did you know I had to bribe him to make a move? Him and Mr. Wayne need to swap stories. Bruce could afford a bit of stoicism, and Batman? That stud could learn how to have fun. Now take that damn thing off!”
Agitation was setting in, and her wriggling about, naked, in the shower's spray was not helping her stomach. Fighting the hand he was holding, she would have thrown herself off balance, had he not been there.
And oddity for one of the most graceful, and agile women of Gotham.
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