The Heart of the Issue [Selina, Batman]

[Nina Stenet]

Nina has always hated hospitals. Especially as a patient, though being there as a doctor is only a little better. Even being a visitor is hard on her - there are just too many unwell people around. People she could fix, if only she had enough time with them. But always too many for the amount of time she actually has. There's always at least a few she sees that will die only because their doctor can't do what she can.

Though perhaps a fortunate thing this time is that she's rather isolated. Apparently, when someone like the Riddler obviously wants you dead and you manage to not die you're entitled to a bit of extra security while you recover. She has a private room with a guard stationed outside her door, who only allows her assigned nurses and approved guests inside. The latter list is rather short - Shawty and Selina are the only ones on it without asking Nina first. She hasn't told her family about what happened, and even if she did they're on the other side of the country. And among the short list of friends she's managed to acquire in spite of her hermitish ways, she's not really been in the right mood to see any of them except for Selina.

Shawty has, of course, been almost constantly by her side. It's to the point that the girl has practically moved into the room with her, really. Which is just as well, since she trusts the young woman far more than whoever's been posted at her door. Luckily her assistant has been fairly silent concerning what happened, though the air is thick with the unspoken 'I told you so'. But that's the last thing that would be useful for Nina to hear right now.

Instead she's found that she's become somewhat fascinated by the sound of the heart rate monitor. While she can also check her heart with her gift, she hardly wants to be doing that constantly and if you know what you're listening to the sound is actually rather informative. Her heartbeat is weak but steady, and the sound of the machine is like a constant reminder that she's alive. Alive and probably going to remain so for quite some time now, which was somewhat of a surprise to her when she finally woke up. That had been the second time she's ever passed out not knowing whether or not she'd ever wake up again, though this time the injury had been much more severe.

But Edward probably hasn't realized just how much some of her skills have improved. Before she'd met him and learned that it would be a good idea to be more creative with her ability she'd been more limited on knowing what to do to quickly patch such a life-threatening injury. Emergency medicine had never been her specialty after all, but research. And in research you generally don't need to be in such a rush. But some of the things she's learned recently have helped her learn to work with or around the limitations of her gift - the doctors are still scratching their heads about how exactly the massive blood clot that patched the hole in her heart formed, preventing her from bleeding to death before they were able to get her to the hospital. Though Shawty is getting a lot of credit for her interventions that likely helped as well. Even if they're still scratching their heads about how it made that big of a difference.

This is the fourth day since, though it seems like less time to Nina. Of course, she'd only gained consciousness about a day ago. And she still hasn't the slightest idea what she does now... It was earlier today that Shawty sent Selina a text simply stating that Nina was well enough to accept a visit. Though as evening has come she finds herself wondering if Selina has decided to give her more time to rest and come tomorrow, or if she has reason to not visit at all. Though she would love the other woman's advice, she's not actually disappointed by either situation. She's found it easy to keep herself from getting bored - there are, after all, critically ill people in this building and they're not too difficult for her to find with her gift, even reaching blindly behind walls.

Hers will not be the only miraculous recovery to happen during this stay, though it's unlikely that anyone will notice that the only connecting thread between several people doing better than expected is that they happened to be a certain distance from Nina while she was at the hospital. Especially since she couldn't begin to get to all of them and many of them won't find out just how but better they're doing for awhile. But though she feels that at least it's better doing that then nothing while she recovers, she'd really rather get back to her lab. While it's very well and good to be helping individuals, her research could help millions. Yet she doesn't dare help herself heal any faster, if only because she doesn't want anyone's eyebrows to be raised by her case any more than they already are.

Just now she's working on a patient a floor down and some distance away. She has no way of telling exactly who the person is, but from what she can gather it's a middle-aged woman with a very serious drug-resistant staph infection. Not wanting to do anything too drastic, Nina is simply doing a few things to help boost the woman's immune system to improve her ability to fight it off. As she works she'd seem to be resting her eyes, laying back on her bed with her eyes closed but with too many signs of activity to indicate sleep. Shawty is still keeping her vigil of sorts, reading a book in the chair by the side of Nina's bed, but glancing up at the slightest sign of movement outside of the room. She already almost lost Nina this week, and is determined to not have that happen again.

[Deleted]

This should not have happened. Even though it's been days, days since Shawty called her, she still can't believe it. And even though she had visited, (not that Shawty or Nina knew) it irritated her. Even with the plan in place, the extra security, the fact she had snagged mere moments of Bruce's damn time, that Edward, Edward of all people had gotten in, and done this...it's safe to say she's upset. Beyond upset. Pissed. But beyond that, as well. She's come so full circle along the spectrum of emotions she's eerily calm. And Selina as calm as this? Not a good thing for anyone on her list. And there are several names as of three days ago. Several. Most of them male, sadly as well.

So as she takes another deep breath, her eyes flicker to the clock. It's nearing five pm. Dusk should be here soon. But Selina casually stands, patting Jasper's paw as it tries to snag her skirt. Not gonna happen tonight, little one. Not tonight. Slinking through her room she picks up a few things here and there. Her tablet, her purse, a scarf, her jacket. Her knee high boots click softly against the hard wood as she paces her room once more; green eyes flick back to her 'wardrobe bar.' Sadly, even using the thing more intensively than she would before a big heist had done nothing but bring her blood to a more steady, rolling boil than it had been. Nothing had been helping. Not even the ranting, screaming phone call she'd made fourty five minutes post Nina's accident.

Not even the face to face shouting match she'd had with him. Not even the brooding at the iceberg, not even the stares she'd given anyone who'd even dared to get within a certain radius of her table. The drink ordered and sent to her table by Harvey, and then another by Lex had been appreciated, but that dark haired woman? That had entirely counteracted the two drinks.


Even Batman had to finally snatch her wrist, restraining her before her clawing and screaming at him had ceased, before she would say, no demand that he show that night. And apologize. Nina would be ok. Selina knew that, in the pit of her stomach, Nina would be fine. She was gifted. But her talk with the woman. Her promise to her friend had been fucked with. Even after the best security, after getting the god-damned Batman to patrol, and herself, he'd still gotten in. Edward. After his little foray to China. His phone calls, his more wonky than standard behaviors. His turning over of his apartment to Crane.

Now this. While Eddie was her friend, and Nina was her friend...there were certain lines that should not be crossed. And even if Edward was being a jilted boyfriend, for whoever knows what reason...this shit was beyond reprehensible. And Selina knew she had to get her own shit together, and fast, before she allowed Nina, or Shawty to see her. This was behavior she had long buried. Kept it across the pond, even. And even in the cardiac ICU, WITH a guard..it wouldn't matter.

At least the room had been sufficient. A bit of tweaking into the admit orders, the open rooms. A room with an opening window. This would work. It better work this time. Or there would be hell to pay. Much. So patting Jasper once more, her jacket slipped into, a nod to Liv (who had refused to leave, natch), Selina went to the waiting car, which already knew where she wanted to go.

It wasn't long before her boots were clicking on the floors, the guard nodding to her as she flashed her ID. She had demanded everyone who entered, and left verify themselves; staff included. It was the least she could do. So with a light rap of her knuckles on the door, Selina slipped past, pushing the curtain to the side as she nodded to Shawty, and moving to slip into the other empty chair.

She had a few hours to talk to Nina, if she woke, before another visitor would be showing as well. Smiling wanely at the blonde, Selina made note of the fresh flowers delivered, and the fact Nina looked....alive. Moreso than someone who had been stabbed as brutally as the doctor had been, but still. Nina looked peaceful, not bent over her work for once. A corner of her mouth quirked slightly. Hell, the woman was probably working right now, knowing her friend.

Good for her.

[Nina Stenet]

Nina herself has a hard time really believing that what happened actually did happen. It's more like something that would happen in a nightmare, really. She hadn't seen Edward in months, he'd completely severed all ties to her. She's never done anything to him that even he would say deserves death - if she had he would have done something like this already. It would have literally been easier for him to spend the rest of his life pretending that she never existed, even if the other rogues were paying attention to her. Why should that matter to him when he obviously no longer cares about her well-being? She can find no logical reason why he'd see the need to kill her.

And though it took her some internal debate at first, she's now very certain that he really did mean to kill her. The only reason why that was even briefly a question in her mind is because he knows about her gift and many things that she can do with it. He should have figured that it would be possible for her to survive even this, and therefore should have come up with a better plan. But the logic of that thought fails quickly when you consider just how close to not making it she'd been - if he'd intended for her to live, then he'd cut it way too close. So the fact that she survived was a miscalculation on his part.

Even so, at this moment, she's not really that angry. Mostly because the emotion is wasted at the moment - what can she do about this from a hospital bed? The time for anger is later, when she's back on her feet; right now the best thing she can do is rest her body and keep her mind occupied. It helps knowing that, even bed bound, she knows Edward enough to know that it will take him awhile to find out that she survived. Since he intended to kill her he obviously assumed that what he did was enough to accomplish the job so he's highly unlikely to bother doing anything to check and make sure that she actually died. Instead he'll declare that task accomplished and only discover his mistake when her continued existence comes directly to his attention again. Which probably won't be for awhile, so she can consider herself to be safe from him for the time being.

Of course, there are other potential threats she may need to worry about, but though she's of course feeling extraordinarily vulnerable at the moment she trusts Shawty enough to assume that her assistant has done what she can for security. And Shawty has fulfilled that trust by alerting Selina to the crisis as quickly as she could. While she may not be completely sure what and how the woman has meddled to ensure Dr. Stenet's safety, she can be certain that such meddling has occurred - the amount of trust she hold for the woman has now grown quite a bit from what it was. And that leaves her free to concentrate on doing what she can do and Selina cannot: to stay constantly by Dr. Stenet's side as both a last line of defense should all else fail and also for simple companionship. It's not good for Dr. Stenet to feel alone right now.

And she, of course, is the first one to notice Selina's arrival, though she's quick to go from tense attention to relaxed again when she recognizes her. Returning her nod, she slips a bookmark in between the pages of her book to mark her place - whatever is said here she'll want to be paying attention. And she'll still probably be watching Selina like a hawk, but then again that's just habit at this point. Especially so soon after near total disaster.

But though Nina may appear to be resting, she's in fact very awake and alert. Most of her attention may be on something very far away and her eyes may be closed, but that doesn't mean that she can't still hear that someone has arrived. Someone wearing fancy heels of the sort a nurse couldn't last a shift in - at least a pair within their price range - so it must be Selina. Though as her friend comes to her bed and takes a seat her first reaction is to furrow her brow in concentration. She's not really finished with the woman she's currently helping, and it would be tricky trying to blindly find the same person again. Then again, she probably has done enough to ensure that the patient will survive already, especially as whoever is prescribing the woman's medications seems competent.

So it's only a few moments after Selina sits that she somewhat reluctantly allows her attention to return to where she actually is, and when she opens her eyes she gives her friend a somewhat weak smile. "Hey, good to see you! Sorry it took me a moment, I was in the middle of something..." she explains. Now that she's actually interacting, it's easier to see how she must feel: weak, very weak. Between the blood loss, healing from heart surgery, and the side effects of all the medications they have her on she suspects that a kitten would be a match for her in strength. She's only sitting up now thanks to the back of the bed being in the raised position and the aid of a few strategically placed pillows making her own effort minimal.

Some of the medicine dulls her mind a bit too, but the main culprit in that is the pain medication - which she doesn't really need since she can manage her pain better with her gift than with drugs. She still takes as much of it as she can stand since refusing all of it would make the hospital staff wonder about her, but she takes little enough that they assume that she's tough and would rather face some of the pain than be drugged into a comfortable stupor. No, she'd rather have her wits about her, thank you, even if there's not much that she can do with them beyond putting her gift to use in other patients until her body recovers.

"You would not believe my week," she lightly jokes, if only because she knows that she probably looks like crap and wants to prove that she's quite well in mind if not in body. She knows that she'll recover just fine at this point, it will just take an annoyingly long amount of time. It's what she does after that which becomes the more problematic thing to mull over. She'll have a lot of time to ponder that while her body mends itself, but though she's uncertain at this point what decisions she will make between now and then she knows that there are things that need to change.

[Deleted]

As Nina's eyes pop open, Selina wants to weep. It's been such a roller-coaster of emotions, she doesn't even know where to start. So, for now, she nods. It's not that she hasn't looked over the medical records (electronically, of course), or the police reports (benefits of being a 'consultant,' as she had been brought in for security purposes), but she knew as much as she could. And even after bringing a hot meal or two for Shawty, as the two women had gone over the finer details, Selina still couldn't shake it from her bones. The fact she'd done so much, brought in someone who had more skill, and a few more resources than herself...and still. Edward had made his mark. But either the man was out of his mind for some reason, or clearly unawares of what Nina's gift could really do..because she wasn't dead.

Yes, she'd nearly been gutted, but as she lie before her, pale, drained, but talking Selina just nodded. Scooting her chair a bit closer to the bedside, she motions to what Nina is probably more than aware of; the offerings of tea, and other sundries. She'd even brought in a rather lightweight, but warmer than the thin cotton hospital blankets for the woman. Her friend. As Selina's vivid green eyes close a moment, it's clear to anyone that she's rattled. And no doubt Shawty has conveyed this to Nina as well.

"I'm sorry, Nina." Selina finally chokes out. Not that she should be blaming herself; she didn't hold the knife; but as hard as she had tried, she'd failed. A faint voice in the back of her mind whispers that it's not her fault, she had done everything she could, but there is another nagging feeling more south; near her heart, that screams otherwise. If this was even a sliver of what Bruce felt...she was convinced she could never slip the fence and do his job. Daily.

[Nina Stenet]

Shawty had actually managed to keep most of what happened between Mr. Nigma and Dr. Stenet a secret from the authorities. She'd simply said that when she and her boss had arrived home, Mr. Nigma had been waiting for them, stabbed Dr. Stenet, and fled when she shot at him - a simplified version of the truth. She'd withheld the recordings of the internal security system for privacy reasons since her story checked out with the police without it, but of course she told Selina everything she'd witnessed. Which was everything, pretty much, though she's betting that Dr. Stenet could still add to it just because she knows the man a lot better and can thus see the more subtle things.

When Selina indicates the things that she'd brought, Nina glances at them and says, "Thank you for those." As ever, Selina is so thoughtful all the time, though really what she's most grateful for is the other woman's presence. Though she's taking it well, nearly dying is a very scary experience. And while Shawty being there is some comfort, knowing that her assistant isn't the only one trying to look out for her is that much better.

Though in spite of everyone looking out for her, she knows exactly who to blame for where she is right now. "It's not your fault, Selina," she says seriously, offering her hand to her friend to hold so that they can both comfort each other. "Edward was the last person I expected to do something like this. We... parted on reasonable terms - he had no reason to want me dead. He had no reason to so much as see me again, except maybe if he needed something or... changed his mind. Or so I thought..." she frowns and adds, "If only I weren't so blinded by my feelings, everything that you and Shawty have done for me would have been more than adequate. This is my fault." And she says it very matter-of-factly, without the slightest sign of being that upset with herself. Maybe she should be, but what would that accomplish at this point? And she's not the first or last person to make a stupid decision out of love, after all.

"If you see him, you need to be very careful, Selina," she adds, her tone growing even more serious in warning, "Everything about this was not like him at all. Something's changed. And it really worries me what that might mean." She frowns, a bit of weariness touching her expression. But not the world-weariness that she'd held for so long, but the raw feeling: there are so many things that she really should be doing, but she's just too weak at the moment. She'll get stronger, she knows, but then she'll get very, very busy.

[Deleted]

Where does she even start. Her friend, Nina, not just Doctor Stenet was injured. And she's holding it together so much better than she is herself. For someone used to being in the spotlight, holding things together, presenting a rather pulled together portrait, she's failing. Selina has spoken extensively with Shawty, which she is sure has been passed on in her absence. But beyond that is the failure. The timing. The fact she has met with Bruce, who by proxy [something she only knows] is Batman. And that Batman has been so occupied that he has failed Nina not once, but twice, seemingly. So while she wrings her hands, finally sifting through her handbag and occupying herself with a mug of tea, it's hard to disguise the anger seething under her skin.

But it's not just Batman. Or her own lack of procurement in the best of her own skill, or one could say reverse engineering of her skill. It's the fact the man who has done this is Edward. The Riddler. And somehow, he was brilliant enough to bypass her own machinations, as well as Batman's. The man is beyond 'not ok.' So she nods. And dares a glance at her friend. Nina looks well. Not that she's going to demand to see the scars. She's heard enough, and saw Nina's home post Riddler escapade. And knowing Nina's keen skill...she had been worried. There had been copious amounts of blood.

"I tried to do what I could. Even though you were out for a few days." Selina murmurs, nodding as she listens quietly, attemptign to compose herself in vain. But Nina has a point. Feelings certainly cloud one's judgement. And she hasn't even told Nina that she is...seeing someone. Well, has been, but it's finally been discussed, to a degree. A non degree. Like a negative number. Which is imaginary, but..not. Sighing, she looks back up at Nina with a knowing pause. "No, this isn't your fault. Eddie is ..charming. And we can't always choose, or fight who we love. It's never just that easy." A sip of tea helps quell the fury threatening to come out again, and she shakes her head. She's clearly struggling, and trying to hide it all from Nina.

"Edward has never been a safe man. He'll get ideas, and see them through to the end for whatever reason. Mostly vanity, or pride. Sometimes just to have the last word. And if he can't have you, Nina, then no one can. That's what's going through his mind. His twisted, sick mind." She echoes. Noting the weariness colouring Nina's words, she sighs again.

"It's funny. Not even a few months back, I landed myself in a situation much like this," she starts; a bit of humor in her own voice. "A motorcycle accident, covered by a mugging. Twisted ankle, broken wrist, and a concussion." She laughs. "It hindered things for a bit, but...I sadly didn't have your own skill." She's rambling at this point, unware she's merely distracting herself from her anger. Selina Kyle, or Catwoman in rare form, though right now it's more Catwoman in street clothes than just merely Selina Kyle visiting a friend.

"What do you think made him snap, if anything. I just can't seem to wrap my mind around it. Other than the rather awkward, awkward phonecall I received from him..."

[Nina Stenet]

Holding it together isn't actually all that difficult for Nina right now. She's always been one to have a strong handle on her emotions - she tends to be able to express them when and how she wants to - and she knows that most of how she's feeling about all of this would be totally wasted right here and now. She is, after all, stuck in a hospital bed, and there's precious little use for either anger or tears here. Especially given how weak she is just now - she could easily exhaust herself by being overly emotional. No, her feelings will come later, when they can be directed into a good purpose. For the moment, protected by friends and unable to do much, she's calm and somewhat bored.

She listens as Selina argues her point, instead directing the fault back on Edward. Which is only fair, she supposes - people seem naturally inclined to hand all blame to just one person even when it truthfully ought to be divided out among many people. In this case, naturally Edward is the most to blame for doing it in the first place, though she'd rank herself as a close second with the portion for anyone else being rather small. "He is charming, and no it isn't easy," she agrees, though she feels compelled to add, "But he doesn't love me. And I knew it. And I held onto him anyway. I listened to his pretty words, gave him trust that he doesn't deserve... I knew better..." Oh, but she'd wanted to believe the lie so badly! "Though perhaps I wouldn't have been so foolish if I'd thought for even a moment that he'd do this..." she adds, her voice slightly tainted by a little anger leaking out. She's not sure what she'd expected instead, but whether it was robbery, coercion, or anything else she actually wouldn't have minded so much. But nearly taking her life? No, that's different.

Though when her friend gives her theory about why he did it, Nina's quickly shaking her head. "No, that's not it. He could have had me if he'd wanted me - he knew that," she comments with a sad frown. She'd as good as told him that mere moments before he'd stabbed her, even. Yes, she'd (eventually) pulled away from his kiss, but only because she'd known the wrongness of it. If he'd really meant it she knows that, while the choice was also a foolish one, she would have forgiven him the way that he'd ended it. But instead he'd come to hurt her more.

As Selina goes on to tell about her own accident, Nina listens quietly even though the woman is clearly rambling about something only vaguely having to do with what they're talking about and certainly not useful. But even so she listens, knowing that her friend probably just needs to talk. "Hmm, but sadly, I'm probably going to have to heal the long way this time - I've already drawn too much attention from everyone by living. Healing too quickly on top of that would be too much," she says with a sigh, dreading the many extra days of weakness and inconvenience that means. But at least she's alive.

Though the last few comments Selina makes definitely draws her attention. "Phonecall?" she asks, somewhat curious. "I have no real idea, though I have a few theories and speculations..." she replies, her forehead wrinkling in thought. "He told me he was worried about the attention I've been getting from the other rogues," she starts, as she knows that it's an important point, "Which does not make sense to me. I'm sure you know as well as I do that he has a certain problem with over-confidence - he lays a few brilliant plans and then figures everything will turn out perfectly. And obviously he wasn't concerned about my well-being, so I figure that he thinks that one of the other rogues is going to use me against him. Which is an absurd thing to be worried about when he knows me as well as he does." She shakes her head at that before she explains her possible conclusions, "So either he was lying about being worried - which he doesn't do - or he's caught wind of something that has him really concerned. Or he's simply gone insane beyond all logic."

She frowns as she adds, "There's something else too - his leg was cured. Not simply healed, but reversed. I don't know how, but I checked it with my power: his leg is as whole as if it had never been injured. There's other things too - he looks different. I mean, it's subtle, but I noticed. And his telomeres are too long. Something big has happened to him, changed him in ways I thought that only I could do. And I can't imagine that it hasn't affected his brain somehow - he seemed a little bit... off to me. Like he was only pretending to be his old self..." She frowns and shakes her head, looking troubled. She doesn't really know what to say more about that - she can report the symptoms, but figuring out the cause is beyond her.

[Deleted]

As Selina listens, she understands. All too well, if that even made sense. But did love ever make much sense? She wasn't one to answer that, or even answer it correctly. "Love is never logical, Nina. Nor is it rational, and it always makes sense to fight for someone you love, be it black or white at hand, or right or wrong, or whatever shade of rightiousness. And sometimes, we just can't help who we love, or why we continue to, after they...do such irrational actions." Her voice trails, and things seem to be coming together. Even as Nina mentions something she herself had been noticing, but one man had not.

It almost pained her that everyone but Batman had been noticing the hightened attraction to the rogues, as well as the unwante attention she was getting. She'd even ran strong lines to Bruce about that. And even as she frowned, it called for a mental note to be filed to figure out what exactly was before an innocent bystander that could be so damn important he couldn't devote a teeny tiny bit of his time to it.


Crosssing, and then uncrossing her legs as Nina continues on, something catches her attention, again. "He called from Africa. Drunk out of his mind. And trust me, I've seen, and been with him drunk...but this was just not him. If that makes sense." Throwing up her hands, she shrugs. "I wouldn't put it past him to lie, but to lie about being worried, especially about you is out of character. But he could be on to something about one of my counterparts plotting to use you. Or being insane beyond all logic. He has spent his share of time in Arkham. And he needs it at times. Really needs it. He spins himself into a riddle himself. An enigmatic fury, you could say."

"But his leg injury." She shakes her head. "He's always had that, as far as I can remember. And if I were to say it were just some surgery, or some sort of stem cell whatever, it seems you can tell it's beyond that. And if my dabbling hasn't taught me a tiny fraction of what you know...that's not normal for his cellular makeup to be altered. I just..." She trails, her eyes seeking out the clock. Now she wishes the time she had set aside to chat privately was going by quicker. Thankfully Bruce, well, Batman could answer that question. And sooner, rather than later.

"Sadly, Nina, I haven't seen him yet. After tonight I might need to go stop at the Iceberg. If he's back in town, no doubt he's been to see Ozzy, or even to just get a drink. Or...to see Jonathan." She stands, smoothing out her skirt. "Forgive me, but I'm going to open the window for a bit of fresh air.

As odd as it seems, Nina was placed in a rather private, airy room. One with an actual working window still. Something that Shawty may have noticed, but hell if Selina is going to -not- open the window at this point. The three women (whether two of them realized it or not) were expecting a visitor. And Selina was expecting a rather hard conversation about to occur, as well as some much needed answers, as well as a plan of action. And possibly a nightcap with a man in a dark mask.

So once she is done opening the window, she settles back into her chair, one last look at Shawty, and Nina before she begins to listen again, and answer questions.

[Nina Stenet]

"I know..." Nina says very quietly as Selina finishes speaking about the irrationality of love. Even now she can't really say that she regrets loving Edward - it had been an extreme roller coaster ride the entire time with many very irrational decisions on her part, but she can't say that she'd want to go back and change any of it at this point. No, the regret here is entirely about the more recent event: offering Edward any trust at all when she saw him in her apartment. He hadn't deserved any, and yet she'd given it to him anyway in perhaps one of her most irrational moments yet. That is one decision she'd take back if she could.

As she listens to Selina talk about her chat with Edward, Nina's expression goes into a thoughtful frown. It's fairly uncommon for him to get himself really drunk - she knows that he likes to keep his mind sharp. The only time she's ever seen it, he was under a great deal of emotional distress, so what does that say about whatever is going on? Her frown deepens as Selina confirms that insanity is a possibility - she still has a hard time making her mind up about whether or not he counted as insane, but she's more willing to believe it now than she used to be and is especially more willing to agree that there's a strong likelihood that he could be now even if he wasn't before. But she won't argue with Selina about that matter, at least not now, as they're each entitled to their own opinion and she's not very firm on hers just now.

Instead she focuses more of her attention on confirming what Selina says about Edward's leg. "Oh, definitely not surgery, or any form of medicine I'm aware of. His leg was literally 'good as new' - absolutely no scar tissue or abnormal cells to be found," she explains further. No, it's clear that something very unusual has happened to Edward. Though it almost seems weird to her that rather than telling Selina this because she's extremely concerned for his well-being, she's doing so because she's concerned for Selina's well-being if she talks to him.

Which is why her expression turns a little worried as Selina starts talking about tracking Edward down, though before she can comment on it her friend is heading for the window. "Oh, that's fine," she replies. It can still get a bit cool at night in Gotham, but her bed is not lacking in blankets and having a little fresh air sounds good enough right now to make tolerating a little cold for awhile not seem like such a bad trade. She's blissfully unaware of the possible further implications of having an open window, but then again she doesn't feel quite ready to be too concerned about her personal security and knows that aspect of her life is being over-monitored by very capable friends at the moment.

Like Shawty, for example, who most certainly did notice the window. But one thing the Penguin, the Scarecrow, the Riddler, and even Luthor have in common is that they're not really the type to enter a building through a third floor window on a building without many convenient external features for climbing. All of them are more the type to figure out how to either get through the building or get Dr. Stenet brought to an easier location. But though she didn't consider that it would make it easier for Batman to drop by for a visit, it did cross her mind that if something really bad happened it might allow Catwoman to come in quickly and help. Or maybe Batman or another vigilante - assuming one managed to actually turn up when needed, that is. But generally speaking, windows are a more a positive than a negative security feature for Nina.

Once the window is open, Nina stops holding back on the comments she was about to make. "If you do see him - be careful. Don't expect him to act like himself, even if he seems to be," she warns, looking somewhat concerned. She'd almost like to tell Selina to stay away from him completely, but her friend is a big girl who can take care of herself. Though, once that warning is given, her attention goes elsewhere. "Jonathan... Crane?" she asks, knowing the man but not as familiar with his first name as she is the other things you could call him, "What is the connection between those two - do you know? I know he escaped with Edward when the FBI left... But he somehow knows about Edward and I, and I haven't been able to figure out how he could know. Unless Edward told him, which seems unlikely. Though maybe that's another thing to add to the list of odd things Edward has done recently." And she gets the impression that list will only be getting longer.

[Deleted]

Pausing a minute at the open window, she relishes the gust of cool, Gotham air. Gotham's nocturnal heartbeat. How does she go about Nina's questions. Just...how. As her eyes scan the skyline, she turns to Nina, and lightly closes her eyes as she walks back to her seat. "I just....something is going on between them. And it...seems like it might be a rebound. Last I saw Edward..well, spoke to him, he was drunk off his ass, and called me from..Africa, I believe. He was more off his rocker than normal. And flirty. And the last I had seen Crane...ugh." The shudder that goes through her body is visible. Crossing her arms over her chest, she almost regrets opening the window. If only there were a strong pair of arms to wrap around her. As if.

She might as well fill Nina in. "I'd thought to pop in to see Edward," And before Nina, or Shawty can stammer anything she holds up a hand. "We're friends. You both are quite aware. I don't, and have never needed a key to his brownstone. So...I think to pop into his place for a bit..considering everything," And by 'everything' she means the breakup, China...the FBI....all of it. "I knock...because yes, I knock at doors, sometimes....and Jon is there. Offers me a saucer of cream. Because....that's how he is. Awkward. Even though..he could be passable, if he toned down that vibe a bit...anyway. He tells me Edward is ill, in the back. This is after I go to leave. Wait." She pauses, realizing she's mixing up the story. And a story it's going to be. "Let me back up. I knock, Jon answers. Offers me cream, says Edward's out. I leave. He catches me in the elevator. ...literally..catches." She is mildly realizing how...insane her story is. And considering the cast....she is keenly aware of Nina, and Shawty's faces.

"He cuts a cable, I throw a mock fear fit, we get out, he tells me Eddie is ill, in the other room. Well, considering he's turned Edward's gorgeous brownstone into some sort of ...lab....I'm curious. And pissed. And still acting. So...I go to see Eddie. It's not him. It's some sort of ..man, injected with whatever juice Crane is toying with. Long story short...I get out of the room, Nightwing showed up..and someone else...and Jon got a bit of a beating." She didn't want to say who exactly handed Jon his ass...but that was best saved for another time.

"I think Jon is Edward's rebound. There is something...was something, seriously off...about the two of them." She shudders again, reaching for her tea to sip at. "And Edward's leg. I'd have to wrack my brain to think of where he could get that...sort of restoration to his leg. And the odd behavior." There is someone she knew who could piece together a few more of the curiosities, but..well, it seemed he was running a bit late so far.

[Nina Stenet]

As Selina starts to explain Nina would appear to be remarkably passive as she listens, given the content. Though the real reason for it is because it takes a lot of energy to be surprised, shocked, alarmed, or any other adrenaline fueled reaction. And she just doesn't have that kind of energy at the moment. Instead she simply appears to be troubled and confused by it all as she tries to understand what in the world is going on with Edward.

In fact she simply nods when Selina talks about visiting Edward - she's aware of the friendship between the two and in fact expected Selina to be poking her nose into whatever he was doing after their previous conversation. A hint of surprise and then confusion crosses her features as Selina explains that Crane was there. Why would Crane be in Edward's apartment? It makes no sense to her. Crane is a disgusting, unattractive, unpleasant, and thoroughly horrible person, and she just can't picture why Edward could tolerate being in the man's presence for more than two minutes. Perhaps it had something to do with the escape from the asylum? She could picture Edward using the man as a tool to help him get out of there, and then perhaps Edward owed him a favor? She's really just guessing, and she knows it, but that's about the only way that the whole thing makes sense to her. Then again, as she's noted, Edward's odd behavior simply seems to have been happening for awhile.

But her thoughts seem to settle, and as Selina describes what happened with Crane her expression shifts more to a simple frown. Obviously Selina got out of there in one piece, but she doesn't like hearing what her friend went through. "I'm just glad you're okay," she says with a slightly disbelieving head shake - she believes that Selina wouldn't lie about it but, then again, how did all that happen? "Crane is such a... strange man. In a terrible way."

Nina's expression becomes thoughtful again as she comments, "But it's expected for him to be 'off'. As far as I can tell he always has been. But for Edward..." Instead of finishing that sentence she just sighs. Her head is full of too many questions, most of them impossible for her to answer. What happened to Edward? What does Crane have to do with it? What does she do about it now?

Shawty, meanwhile, remains silent. She doesn't really see it as her place to comment, really, though she has plenty of energy for her surprise and puzzlement about these things to cross her face. But unlike the two others in the room, she doesn't mull it all over for long - if they don't have an explanation, how is she supposed to know? They both know a lot more about Mr. Nigma than she does, after all. Right now she's kind of glad that she's 'only' the assistant and bodyguard here - trying to figure out what's going on or what to do about it is not her job.

[Deleted]

Odd and Crane go hand in hand. Dismissively waving her hand, Selina shakes her head. "He's ok sometimes. And by sometimes, I mean rarely. I've had a nice time over a drink with him a time or two. But you get him hyper-focused on Fear, or something he's cooking up..and it just spirals downward. Into a territory and headspace I'm not..that ok with. Not to say I don't have my own themes..and yes, my 'friends' are a bit odd...but hell, I'm decently adjusted. She pauses, contemplating her tumbler of tea. "Unlike some others that I know of..." she muses darkly.

"I just....we'll figure something out. And sooner than later...rather than the last time I said that." Selina adds quietly as well. He's late. And to be honest, if he's late one more time, he's going to have more than a lovely, welcoming hug offered this time around.

[Deleted]

Batman listened to the conversation inside the hospital room. The microphone, attached at the upper corner of the window, blended nearly seamlessly with the window’s caulking. While it might have been obvious to anyone actively looking for it, to most it would be just an irregularity in the bead that sealed the window, and not the only one. All things considered, it was very well hidden.

Selina’s entrance was oddly understated for who she was, but appropriate for the situation. A good friend had been injured, one that she had tried to save. It wasn’t in Selina to be humble, but this was close.

He listened as Dr. Stenet described the Riddler, and he knew that she had unique insight into the bastard. Her admonition for care around the psychopath was certainly in order.

Selina talked about love, and not being able to choose the object of your affection. Or, more appropriately, that one might not be able to deny it. He didn’t think she was talking about the Riddler, though.

He thought that Stenet was right in her assessment of the Riddler. His pride and vanity would force him to see a “project” through to the end, even if the purpose became useless or obsolete. He wouldn’t be able to deal with failure, and quitting, giving up was even worse. He didn’t believe there was any such thing as a spent cost when it came to the Riddler; every investment had to be capitalized on. Her comment on healing the long way – interesting. He’d suspected she was able to heal herself, and possibly others as well. It was nice to get confirmation from the source.

Her comments about the Riddler going insane didn’t score many points with the Dark Knight. As far as He was concerned, it was a foregone conclusion. That he had gone further around the bend, though, was interesting. And again, the comments of healing, though this time obviously not Stenet’s doing, piqued his interest. He’d heard rumors, but nothing more than that. Her knowledge of telomeres wasn’t surprising, but how she knew Riddler’s had changed from a casual meeting? And the comment that only she could have done it . . .

Theories ran through his brain, but he wasn’t sure how to test them. It sounded like Dr. Stenet could somehow sense the molecular structure of a living organism and adjust it. That would account for account for the healing, and her ability to know so much about the Riddler, if indeed she wasn’t delusional herself. Nothing in how she acted, though, would lead him to doubt her sanity, though what she implied was incredible.

Selina’s comments indicated that she was aware of Stenet’s abilities, though that didn’t surprise him. He had his own secrets; why shouldn’t she have hers. Still, the talk seemed to confirm that the Riddler had been altered on a cellular level and that it had affected his mind. That wasn’t a good thing, considering his tendencies already. Who could tell how he would end up?

Batman withdrew slightly, enough to make sure his shadow wouldn’t give him away. Selina opening the window – she’d wanted him to make an appearance and she was giving him a doorway in which to do. Did she know he was here? Of course she did. This was Selina Kyle – security consultant extraordinaire. That, and the fact that he’d failed to stop the attack.

Selina and Edward. The thought of it made his skin creep, but he wasn’t in a position to caste stones. He definitely wasn’t a saint. Edward and Crane? It was no secret that Bruce strictly favored females as his own partners, though he had no issue with the sexual inclinations of another. Still, the Scarecrow and the Riddler literally in bed together; it cast a whole new meaning on the term foreplay.

The Scarecrow cutting the cable of an elevator car? Well, fear inducing, certainly, but quite a venture from his typical modus operandi. This story just got weirder and weirder.

Batman reached down and retrieved the microphone. It took seconds to put it away. He dropped to the window ledge, the movement being largely covered by the reflections of light from within, but a movement that big would have been noticed. He stepped through the window and walked among the woman gathered there without comment and took a look at her chart.

He looked up Dr Stenet. “You survived," he said, replacing the chart. "I’m impressed.”

[Nina Stenet]

Though Nina listens as Selina speaks about how Crane is apparently not that bad - not something she's really willing to believe until she sees it for herself, and she doesn't particularly want to give him the opportunity to prove it - she doesn't really have anything more to add to that line of thought. Though as Selina goes on to add that they'll figure something out, Nina's expression changes to a pensive frown.

She's not one to beat herself up about past mistakes too much. What would that accomplish anyway? Can she go back and change the past by wishing that she'd acted differently? That only wastes time that could be better spent trying to make better decisions now and plan for the future - those are things she can actually do something about. Trouble is, at the moment she hasn't a clue what she should decide now or plan. She knows that she needs to be safer, but how? She knows that she wants to respond to this attempt on her life, but how? At the moment, she's drawing a blank. And in spite of the fact that Selina is her friend, she just doesn't know how effective the woman's ideas of how to protect her would be.

But before she can begin to try to put any words to those thoughts, she sees Shawty reacting to something. The young woman goes tense, hand already halfway to the gun concealed in her waistband before she identifies the shadow in the window and relaxes again. Well, most of the way - she's not immune to the man's naturally intimidating ways, even if Dr. Stenet told her that he's more on their side than not, so she does silently keep an eye on him. Not that she thinks that she could actually do anything if he does anything she doesn't like.

Nina watches him too, but in an almost idle way - he's simply the most interesting thing going on in the room at the moment. Even before she was hurt and sapped of most of her energy, she wasn't that afraid of him - partly because she's not in the habit of doing the sorts of things that are likely to make any differences they may have turn physical instead of verbal, and partly because of her gift. All she's ever told him about it directly is that she has one and that it's quite powerful, and much of her calmness in his presence seems to confirm that she at least believes that it gives her some level of protection.

Of course, given her present situation, one might question just how much protection it gives her. On the other hand, the fact that she's even alive really is impressive: a stab wound to the heart is perhaps one of the more lethal injuries that one could have - death should have come within minutes. But here she is, four days later, and very much alive. She nods to Batman's words, and says, "Barely. I didn't know if I'd wake up..." That night she'd passed out on the floor of her kitchen, not knowing whether or not her efforts had been enough until she'd woken up here about a day ago. Needless to say, she was quite relieved - to say that was a close one would be putting it mildly.

[Deleted]

She couldn't have told you if it was hiswords, or herwords that set her off. But before any more damn words could be said, Selina spun out of her chair, and thrust herself at Batman. It was with a fury and speed, a grace and finesse that she moved, her hand moving; her fingers flexing as if they were adorned with her night-time attire. Thankfully they weren't, as her hand shifted to connect with Batman's face; his cheek specifically as the sound of connection echo'ed faintly in the room.

She just couldn't believe he'd said that of all things. No apology, no murmur of something other than what he had said. Selina had snapped, standing there, in front of a man who clearly dwarfed her in just her heels and no mask, no leather, nothing. Just a woman pushed to the point of agressive passion, slapping a man that she -knew- hid behind the mask. A man in the mask who had been preoccupied with God-knows-what, and had done nothing when she had asked before, to keep her, dare she even call Nina the sacred word; friend.

So before Shawty could respond, or Nina, or even him, she could feel the tears pouring down her face. The emotions had been too much. To know Edward had stabbed Nina; someone she had fun with at times, to knowing Nina had suffered such a pain, and such hell at his hands, to know that Bruce was behind the mask, and she had been with him that night this all occured, and how Batman had failed her, thusly showing his frail, frail humanity, was all too much for her. As much as the vain attempts to even orchestrate some sort of protection, on her behalf as well had failed. Her. Failed a friend. It was too much.

Selina shifted away from him with an eerie grace; spinning on her heel, she walked pointedly to the door. It didn't matter there was coffee in the room, tea, chocolates, none of it. "I'm going to get coffee." She said sweetly, headed toward the door, faking whatever it was that was allowing her to propel her body forward.