Curiosity and the Cat [Catwoman]

[Dick Grayson - Nightwing]

After stopping some crook trying to break into a electronic store, Nightwing decided that some of these criminal were getting a little lame with how and what they went around stilling. Though it did make the job easy to take the guy down. These criminals seemed to be losing their touch sometimes. What every happened to the creative way of entering a building rather than just smashing a window and grabbing items.

Nightwing had made it on the scene as a silent trip alarm had gone off to notify the police. Dick's computer systems built into the dash of the motorcycle notified him of the alarm. He had raced to the scene and it only took moments for him to stop the criminal in his tracks.

Dick had then gotten a few blocks away before the police had gotten there. He hid his motorcycle in a nearby alley and decided to go by rooftop for a while. Him racing around the city on his motorcycle wasn't going to help him focus as much as looking out for a while.

Dismounting from the motorcycle, Dick left his helmet on the bike and ran toward a fire escape. He made a running leap and grabbed a hold of the railing, pulling himself up onto the ledge of it. And he continued to flip his way up and grabbing hold of the railings. It didn't take him long to get to the rooftop.

Once there, he heard a loud bang. He ran across to the other side to keep an eye out toward the main street. He crouched down near the ledge and used a pair of binoculars to look out. The sound sounded like it had come from the inside of one of the apartment buildings above a store.

[selinakyle]

Noise. Gotham was full of so much damn noise. Even the criminals and petty theives made it. At least she didn't. But the original mark she had set up was tossed to the side, especially considering she saw another figure darting across the rooftops. It wasn't brooding enough to be Batman, so it must be Bat Jr. Or whatever he was calling himself these days.

Stepping from an adjacent shadow, Catwoman arched her back, stretching languidly, getting her spine aligned before she dove into the alley. Almost a perfect dive, she easily caught a railing to break her fall, the momentum used to swing her in an arc down to the ground.

Crouched in her landing, she blinked once, then twice as she could hardly believe what she saw. What sort of idiot left a machine like this; helmet and all just sitting in the damn alley?

Shrugging, Selina walked around the machine for a moment, eying it for alarms. A hand pressed to the engine proved whomever was the owner, was near by. And...a key in the ignition. Gently touching the helmet, she leaned over to pull in the clutch, and turn the key in one swift movement.

A gutteral sputtering echoed as the motorcycle started, and Selina refrained from a joyful laugh. "What a moron. Well, their stupidity is my gain, no?" It didn't help the temptation that she was already clad in full leathers, and well, there was a helmet right there...

[Dick Grayson - Nightwing]

Dick's attention was quickly broken by the familiar sound of his motorcycle being started. No way! Was someone really trying to steal his motorcycle?! Well if the person really wanted to think about getting away with it, they wouldn't get that far. He had a small control system built into his gullets of his gloves. He knew he must have left the keys in it, but he still had computer control over it. The bike had an auto drive system to come back to his location when he needed it.

Right away, he put the binoculars away as he got up and make a run toward the alley. There was no way someone was going to even get more than a few feet with his bike. He had put too much work into upgrading the systems and gear on it since he had left the batcave.

He didn't take his time to try and get down into the alleyway. As soon as he reached the edge of the building, he jumped off the edge. He make the jump wide to be able to use the fire escape on the other building to help with a safer landing to the ground. Dick could see who was leaning over his motorcycle. He recognized that figure and costume any where. Catwoman.

Dick gabbed hold of the railing of the fire escape on the other building a bit more than half way down. And stopped for a second and then pushed off and did a flip. The flip helped to make the landing lighter on his knees as he bent his knees when he stuck the landing.

"Don't even think about it," Dick said as he sprung forward. He charged toward her as she stood over the motorcycle. If he had to he would control it by the remote device he carried with him.

[selinakyle]

Always with the theatrics. It seemed that Batman Jr. Still hadn't given them up. A smile crept to her lips as she did realize it was slightly refreshing, better than 'Do what I say, grumble grumble brood stare.'

Turning to stare at Nightwing, Catwoman smirked, her booted foot sweeping the kiickstand up so the bike was standing. For a short time, at least. "Think? I'm a do'er, Robin..." She teased, her grip on the break wavering as the bike would move slightly. "You should rethink leaving your toys out, unattended. I would've thought you were taught better."

[Dick Grayson - Nightwing]

He stopped a few feet away from Catwoman and his bike. Dick was close enough that he could easily react if she did try to pull anything. "The name's Nightwing," Dick said in a more serious tone. Robin was no longer who he was. The criminals around here seemed to like replying to him as the Boy Wonder yet.

"Don't you have something better to do, like trying to rob a jewelry store or something," he commented back in return to her remarks at first. He watched has she toyed around with the break on the bike. Why was it that when he was actually have a pretty good night on a patrol that someone has to come along and treat him like he was still a kid?

"I would have thought you would have realized by now that I do have a remote computer system on it," he replied to her comment about being taught better. He always played it smart when it came to mode of transportation. It was about the same system as in the batmobile that was used to control it. Dick had just worked on it a bit more on the computer programing of the bike.

[selinakyle]

Selina laughed heartily, giving the boy a wink. Well, he wasn't quite a boy, but she would always think of him as Batman's Robin. The youth sidekick, the wide eyes and the open mouth when she would taunt the older man. Letting a claw slip out, it easily found a wire, neatly cutting it in two.
Well, you know, Nightwing, Batman's little wiring jobs never deterred me."

Turning her head slightly to watch him, she smirked, letting those vivid green eyes take in his new costume. "The new suit looks good on you. Better than those tights. And the red..." She added quietly, slipping a leg over the bike with ease.

"Why not show me your new toy? If you ask the right questions, maybe I'll give you a bit of treat, Nightwing..." Selina would tease, shifting to straddle the passenger's seat with ease. It was too bad she had left her own bike at home, the two could have had fun.

[Dick Grayson - Nightwing]

Dick cringed a bit as he watched her cut two of the wires in his systems of the bike. He was just a bit annoyed since he wasn't really planning on having anything wrong with his systems that night. Though, no matter, he could easily fix it when he got back to his head quarters.

He slightly ignored her comments as he watched her slide one leg over his bike. He was wondering just what was she getting at. It seemed more than just a joy ride. She knew how much trouble she would be in with him if she even tried to steal his motorcycle. That was something he wouldn't let anyone get away with.

He had gotten pass her first comment and then a slight smirk came to his face at her when she was tempting him to take her around on his bike. "Alright, but you better be able to hang on," he said a bit more seriously.

He walked closer to his bike and grabbed the helmet that had been sitting on the bike. "You better put this on," he handed her the helmet as he climbed onto the bike on the seat in front of her. He was always the type to hand over his helmet to his passengers if they did not have their own.

[selinakyle]

Now this was a conundrum. Wear the helmet, and crush her cat-ears, or not to wear the helmet. Sighing as she took it in her hands, she pressed her fingers along the side of his head. "No looking." Selina would order, pulling her cowl down and tugging off her goggles for the briefest of seconds before the helmet was on, the strap pulled tight. Goggles were pocketed for the time being. It's not like her green eyes had been seen before when he was Robin.

"Hate to break it to you, but I have one of these at home, Nightwing. " Laughing lightly, she flipped down the visor, and waited until he had settled in. "At least your toys are a bit more fun than the brooding Bat's." She quipped, before leaning in and placing a hand around him to settle on the tank. "Ready when you are, crimefighter..." She would let him know, holding tight with her ankles, hoping this was going to be worth it.

[Dick Grayson - Nightwing]

Dick just shook his head lightly and turned away with a smirk on his face at Catwoman's comment. He had seen her before without her goggles on. He had a hunch he knew who she was as well, but would never say it out loud. He simple went along with it. He didn't want to be responsible for anyone's injuries that night. Though unless it was some crook on the street. But other than that, he didn't want to run the risk.

"Good, then you should be able to stay on then," Dick replied looking back over his shoulder at her. He heard the second comment, but was getting ready to start the bike up.

Dick could feel her leaning in toward him and felt her hand come around his side as she prepared for the ride. He knew it was just for when they got going. But it felt strange to have someone riding with him on his motorcycle. And her company was more than welcome to join him for the ride.

Dick reminded himself the last person who had ridden with him on a motorcycle was Babs. His girlfriend. Boy, did he start to hope no one was around that knew him to go running off and blabbing to Babs that Nightwing had been spotted with Catwoman. It was bad enough he was sneaking out without telling her he was running of visiting Dr. Isley for the cure to the poison in his system every week. That was something he wanted to keep from everyone. He would figure it out on his own how to get the antidote soon enough. And if Babs knew that was where he ran off to every week, she would have a fit and he knew she would jump to conclusions like the last time he had even been spotted in public with the woman. Nothing was going on there. It was just a simple form of black mail going on between the two and it was Dick's burden to bare.

As soon as he got the go ahead from Catwoman, he fired up the engine. "Hang on," he repeated once more. Revving it ups a few times as he placed his own feet onto the petals and they shot out of the alley way. Going from 0 to 60 in less than a second. Dick leaned into the bike as he created almost a diagonal line from the alley way to the next street a few house down. It had made it that much easier to avoid having to take some sharper turns at the start of it.

Flying down the straight shot of road, Dick picked up speed with his bike. They only gained speed as he headed down the road. He easily weaved through the cars to pass them. This was something he often enjoyed being able to do as a vigilante. He always got away with speeding through the city. As Dick Grayson, Dick would have been pulled over right away from trying anything like that by the police. But with being Nightwing, a vigilante, he had that much more freedom.

[selinakyle]

Selina laughed heartily, the sound filling the helmet as well as echoing outside of it. Pressing close enough she was near leaning on him, she was ready to go, the sound of the engine gearing up causing her heart to thump a bit harder.

As soon as they got going, she had to smile a bit. Robin....Nightwing knew how to handle two wheels. It was a pity Batman never showed on something this sleek, or she would be hitching a ride with someone else right now.

But there was a nagging at the back of her head. Easing her hold, she shifted her weight ever so slightly as she sat upright, one hand settling on her thigh. Just because she had a feline theme didn't mean her entire catsuit wasn't for versatility as well as looks.

As he decided to do a bit of weaving around the cars, she'd ease back into a more sleek position, the illusion of her leaning on him near complete as her back arched lightly, her hands going to touch the tank again. Only after the speed had slowed, did Selina dare speak.

"So...where is your partner? It seems that it's been a while since I've had two go up against both of you..." To punctuate the statement, her hand gestured to the warehouse district they were passing.

[Dick Grayson - Nightwing]

As he had gotten a little slower with the speed. He was so concentrated on the road at the moment, he had almost missed the first part of her statement. But he didn't. He kind of wish he had though after he realized just what it was about...

"Who the Bat," he questioned, knowing fully well whom she was talking about. If he hadn't been driving he would have looked at her. But he slightly glanced over his shoulder, acknowledging that he had heard her. He didn't really want to travel down this road of subject.

"He's not really my partner. And it will probably be a long while before you do go up against the two of us again," he commented flatly and honestly. Though he was completely trying to beat around the bush. Dick was half wondering himself what he consider Batman any ways.

Ever since he had left, things had been left unsettled. And there were a lot of questions Dick wanted answered. But any time he seemed to get near Batman or Bruce it was either the cold shoulder with as little talk as possible or a full out war against the other. Dick's body started to tense up a bit as he slowed the bike more. He brought his position up as well a bit, no longer leaning in as much as he had been on the bike. "Why, have a run in with him lately," he asked in return still driving the motorcycle by about half the speed they had built from racing through the city.

[selinakyle]

He didn't have to say much to her question. His back tensing, and him looking back at her said more than words could. Meeting his eyes in those few seconds she waited until he turned back around to roll her eyes. For one, she didn't like the animosity she was getting from the former dynamic duo. Her fun was being shunted aside. And two? They were good together. Gave her a bit of a challenge. Stealing was one thing. But stealing with no risk, no ...encounter just made things bland. Boring.

As the air around them wasn't such a whoosh, they were able to talk a bit more freely. "Yes. And he was more of a bastard than ever. I thought it was either women troubles, or you." Chuckling lightly, she poked him in the thigh. "Seems like I was right. I know it's odd coming from me...but it's not the same, Robin."

Yes, she had slipped. But what else was she supposed to call him? This new darker, moodier getup was not her favorite. She preferred the cute little sidekick getup.

[Dick Grayson - Nightwing]

Her light chuckle seemed to mock him, even if she hadn't been trying. He continued to drive one yet, keeping the speed steady. He was half interested in what she was saying. And half annoyed by it. But some of what she had said was catching Dick's curiosity.

Batman was a hard man to rattle. And for Catwoman to have noticed something off about him, something was definitely off. "It's Nightwing," he said almost sounding a bit cold in his way of saying it.

"What makes you so sure it's me," he asked her. "He could have other things on his mind." Though Dick had a feeling Catwoman was right. Usually Bruce was better at hiding that kind of stuff. But Dick wasn't about to think about the past. What was done was done. And he had moved on. Or in some way had?

[selinakyle]

"Well, for starters, he's more...brutal out there. More a bastard than normal." He should know what that means. When Catwoman had been MIA for a month, she had heard the stories about how Batman had been a bit more moody than normal. But damn if that vacation hadn't been worth the intense interrogation he put her through after she re-appeared on the rooftops.

"And when I asked him the same questions, Nightwing, he responded just as surly. So, if I may offer a bit of advice, you two need to sit and chat. Like men. If not for my sake, to help whatever is going on between you two. When the two most feared crimefighters are now having petty spats, those on the other side of the fence notice..."

Leaning in while she spoke, she hoped at least Nightwing would heed her advice. Batman was...too full of himself at times. And to take advice from her, a criminal? Yeah, she could see that going over really well with Batman. It would more than likely end with her in 'cuffs, and a nice little ride down to the PD.

[Dick Grayson - Nightwing]

"Trust me, there is no talking to that guy," Dick replied. Any time he had gotten involved in any of the recent missions, the most he got was a cold glare from the guy half the time. It was as if Nightwing was some rookie vigilante just trying to join in on the fights. Nightwing didn't let the looks get to him. Dick had continued on helping out when he could.

Though with the lack of communication and Dick refusing to follow orders, it made it a bit more difficult for the two of them to work together even with Batgirl there. Neither one wanted to listen to the other. Both not wanting to give an inch.

In their last fight in the batcave, Dick had given an inch and regretted it. He wasn't going to back down. Why should he? He had simply moved on. He didn't understand why Bruce took it the way he did.

"It can't be that noticeable," Dick replied. "It's not like he was every that talkative to begin with when we worked together." Dick just hadn't been around to watch if Batman was taking his anger out on those around him. But he definitely felt the heat when ever he came into rage. "It's like talking to a wall. The most you get is a nod or a simple short response in return," he added.