Soft and fragile is my skin [Selina]

[Deleted]

He sat at the dining room table the sun stretching into the late morning based on the angle it shined through the glass of the window. His fork dipped into the warm scrambled eggs he had made a few minutes earlier. His eyes barely glossed over the cat that sat in his lap purring and Allen who stood at the door with his normal silent emotionless expression. The little girl Selina had taken into helping like some type of adoptive daughter had left for school in the early morning, and he didn't expect her return for hours from now. It left only him and Selina, and based on the running water of the shower, the beautiful woman had just gotten up. He did know her schedule like the back of his hand.

His gun sat on the table next to his plate of eggs and bacon, eating it slowly and enjoying the taste. He often wasn't up early enough for breakfast, but when he was he enjoyed the taste of eggs. The shower stopped running, he clicked hiss phone checking the time. She would be coming out of her bedroom in sixty seconds to get her first cup of coffee of the morning. He had it already pre poured next to the breakfast he had made for her.

He picked up a piece of bacon, the sound of it breaking echoed as he took a delicious bite. He did hope this conversation would be beneficial and he wouldn't be forced to play games with her, but oh, how Selina loved to tease him. As the door open, he adjusted the gun on the table to point at her form as it moved into the living area.

"Good morning, dear. Come take a seat. I've made breakfast," he said with a smirk, his finger touching the trigger.

[Deleted]

She hadn't wanted to wake up this early. But considering she had a meeting, and an early run, she was running on something she would only call a 'short nap.' She was not excited, even after she'd made sure her coffee would be set to start mere minutes after her shower ceased. The shower had been luxurious, but was not quelling her semi-foul mood as she started toward the kitchen. Mere steps into the hall she knew something was off. The whole morning was off, if she were going about it. Too early, Charlotte gone for something before class, and now, this.

Edward. With Jasper purring on his lap like king of the world. And oh, Allen had come, too. She'd have to have a word with the staff downstairs at the desk. No guests, no matter how suave they were, without her notice. Her explicit notice. So as she sighed, and continued to go and sit at the table that was nicely set with breakfast, and of course, her coffee, she smiled at her breakfast guest, who was dressed quite well, as she was still in her robe with damp hair.

Ignoring the gun she went for the coffee, noting he'd even prepared it as she loved; with just enough cream to taint it a creamy caramel color.

"You're too sweet, Edward. Coffee, eggs, bacon, all with a side of iron? To what do I owe this early morning treat?" She purred, eyes taking him in over her mug.

[Deleted]

The barrel of his gun stayed focus on her form, as she walked across the space to the table. Her robe cling to her perfect form that could make any man weak with each step she took. It never quite matter what she wore, she held herself with the upmost type of grace. The only woman that Edward could ever see as an equal and a friend, but after that night, any chance of their friendship continuing had dwindled like a candle lit flame on an open window sill.

He gave a soft laughed at her words, a smirk playing on his lip as his free hand, took another piece of bacon. He could feel the warmth of the cat on his lap, as it slept. If Edward were to classify himself, he would definitely consider himself much more of a cat person then a dog lover. Dogs were idiots that obeyed their masters, while cats went after what they wanted. He took another bit of the crisp bacon, humming softly to himself in thought, before his eyes fell on her.

He didn’t say anything at first. His eyes locked on hers, trying to read behind that well placed mask. “We have quite a problem, dear,” he paused to finish his bacon, picking up the napkin to wipe his fingers, the barrel of the gun never moving, as his finger traced the trigger playfully. His hand then went down to the cat in his lap, and he slowly began to pet it.

“I think Catwoman’s dead,” he stated flatly, his brows furrowing in fake concern, “You can understand why this bothers me because the woman I see before me must be an imposter.”

[Deleted]

"I have never known you to make sure off-base assumptions, Edward." She smirked, sipping her coffee once more. "You know I wasn't expecting guests this morning. But Jasper seems to not mind, so I'll follow his pleasures as well. But it does seem your lap is taken, now doesn't it?" Setting down her cup, she reached to pluck a piece of bacon from her place, and chew it delicately as he mentioned their problem.

"Oh? Last I heard on Gotham Live! she was still alive and kicking. Just because you haven't stopped by to ask what I was up to, doesn't mean she's dead, Edward. I have just, well, the details would probably bore you, no doubt, but a few other avenues of theft have come across my desk, and I'm just pursuing those while a few other plans come into fruition." No doubt this little breakfast date was due to her heavy involvement with the police as of late, or even with Luthor.

Maybe he even thought her getting soft. Either way, she wasn't going to let him get away with calling her such uncouth things in such a dulcet tone. Finishing her bacon, and making a low clicking noise in the back of her throat, the large Maine Coon jumped from the man's lap to the ground and paused to clean a paw before padding off to perch on the back of the couch, tail swishing.

"Ah, now it seems my spot has been vacated," she murmured, going to stand as silk bunched and then straightened as she stood, and sat right where Jasper had left, her on his lap, a hand draping along his shoulders to toy with his hair before she brushed a bit of lint from his lapel. "So. We are having problems, as you were saying?" She murmured.

[Deleted]

She always had a talent of being coy with him, and he merely smirked, running his hand softly through the fur. “You’re correct. I don’t make off-based assumption,” he stated clearly, not backing down from his previous words. Every word that slipped from Edward’s lips had meaning and references. He certainly had a large mouth, filling silences with ease of the perfection of his own silver tongue, but it all had a purpose.

He watched her carefully, noting for any subtle difference. Her mask sat on her features like a well-crafted Venetian artist had place it there themselves. It was the best poker face he had ever seen, the cards held far too close to her chest. He couldn’t even get a breath of a hint of what she was hiding. Luckily, Edward never let a challenge deter him. If she wanted to play poker and make a bet on her life, he would reveal his better hand.

A small smirk played on his face. “What can I say? Cats love me,” he said with a shrug. He had been friends with her for such a long time or did it just feel long because he had such few friends. He knew her so well, and yet, what he had seen from her recently was not the woman he had met all those years back at the museum. Something had changed, while other aspects had stayed the same, like her ability to use her pure beauty to distract him from his thoughts. She had a silver tongue herself, after all. He had expected it, planned for it. Yet her defense of Catwoman was hardly something to be persuaded by.

“I don’t watch trash like Gotham Live!, but I am certain you put on a show like any daughter playing dress up in their mother’s closet,” he noted, as the cat slipped from his lap. He stopped in his words as her form moved from her chair to his direction. His eyes went up her legs to the thin fabric. It was predictable behavior from her, and he wasn’t going to complain, even if the image of her bare skin underneath his hand danced through his thoughts. He remembered her wet form underneath him, the way her breathing escalated, the fill of her wet hair in his grip, and the addictive taste of her lips. He hid the heated feeling that grew within him with an easy well placed smirk, as she slipped into his lap and her hands went into his hair.

His eyes turned to her green ones. “Yes, a problem, which maybe you can solve,” his words were lower as if he were speaking to a lover and not a current predicament in his line of work. The gun in his hand moved from the table and slowly up in-between them. He touched the barrel to her bare collar bone and trailed it down the edge of the fabric to the crevice between her breasts. “I held such respect for you. Your independence and ability to take care of yourself, but all I have seen is you running to the protection of your random lovers like a damsel in distress,” as he spoke, his words became rougher, spitting out the word lovers, as the metal barreled moved up, pressing hard underneath her jaw. His free hand settled on her hip and drifted upwards. “I will admit, I am nothing like Bruce Wayne, naïve idealistic living in a fantasy world he’ll never achieve, Lex Luthor, cold calculating self-centered with a bitter goal to take over the world, or Harvey Bullock, fat and just plain idiotic, so they might be find your princess act alluring, but I find it disgusting. You let the Scarecrow get the upper hand on you and would have faced some of your greatest fear if you hadn’t of been saved. You let the Joker get a shot at you. You cried at Wayne Enterprise. You cry all the time now when faced with the reality, and instead of pulling it together and punishing the people who have hurt you, you instead cozy up to the socialites, like you are just one more bimbo to add to the list of rich wives with too much times on their hands,” he stated coldly, his hand dipping into her wet hair, gripping it tightly and yanking her head back as he pressed the gun harder underneath her jaw. “What has happened to you?” he said almost with a sigh.

“Riddle me this, soft and fragile is my skin. I get my growth in the mud. I’m dangerous as much as pretty. For if not careful, I draw blood. What am I?”

[Deleted]

He was certainly upset. And getting a few, well, minor details incorrect. So while he allowed her to sit on his lap, and she was more than aware of the hitch in his breathing, she ignored his gun. If he wanted to do her harm, he would have. And as it was, her lips down-turned slightly as he was spending much too much time speaking, and too little time indulging in the feast he'd prepared for them both. Of all the men to slip inside her home in the am, this was one of the better options, no doubt.

"A thorn," would come the words from her lips, quiet as a whisper as her eyes slid shut. "You tease me with a riddle more befitting of Ivy, Edward. And if we're going to discuss my problem, let me address them, issue by issue." Clearing her throat lightly, she sat there, poised as the gun parted her dressing gown and pressed metal to her freshly cleansed skin.

"Bruce is idealistic. He's a pawn, and a move for me business-wise. You are aware of this. One-on-one, he's rather entertaining at benefits, galas, and so forth. No reason to be jealous there. He holds a certain clout for me in the papers."

"Lex, I have nothing more than a partnership in Metropham. The man could not be any less interested in me. He has his goals, yes, to rule the world, and loves only himself. No doubt he uses photos of himself during his private time. Again, this puts me in the spotlight, which, considering my alter-ego during the daylight hours is successful, and a socialite, I have images to maintain."

"Bullock. I'd never thought you'd get in a twist over him, Edward. A childhood friend? And if you haven't been aware, but I've been consulting for the police department. Another access that gets me information. And allows me to keep certain instances of close friends I care for less circumspect." And it was all true. In a way, she had her claws in many threads. And she was still in control of them all.

But when he went on to breach Jon's name she froze, her breath catching in her chest. "He baited me. Used my concern for you against me. Two elevator encounters. Two. And he ruined your home. Ruined it!" She quietly admonished, tears welling in the corners of her eyes as she shifted slightly on his lap, her fingers momentarily tensing in his hair as she gave a show of true emotion.

As he went on to mention her tears, and her crying, those now liquid green eyes locked to his face. "I cry when it suits me, and fits the circumstances. At Wayne Enterprises, it was for show. Right now? It's because you wound me, and beause I doubt you were privy to either the fact I am able to call them in at will, or were aware of my plans."

Her fingertips lightly dabbed at the tears, pushing them from her cheeks and eyes. "Just because kitty is flitting around town doesn't mean she is being mindless. What has happened to me? Have you ever thought of how much I walk the line? How I could be doing this to lull a certain side in to thinking I've lost it? See who rises up in my stead? Have you ever thought what it's like to see a man you care deeply for, go after your best friend, then cast her aside, only to toy with another friend, instead of acting on years of restraint, and unconfirmed emotion?" Her fingers caressed his hand on the gun, her finger dipping in to where his forefinger was on the trigger.

"You've already wounded me, Edward. What am I to do when you show me...so much, and then leave? Africa, Nina, China. I had to keep myself from misery. And then you get insulted and question my motives after you've been gone, and enter in the midst of them? So assuming that I've just lost my touch, instead of coming to me and just asking me what is going on in that pretty little head of mine."

Shifting slightly, her legs moved so she was now facing him fully, her legs wrapping around his hips, encircling his waist. "Do you think because I'm putting on a good show for the civilians, that I'm just another bimbo angling for a ring from Wayne? And what about discounting Batman? Now that's insulting. You honestly believe any man could truly collar a cat? I thought you spoke more highly of me. That you'd attribute a bit more than me climbing the ranks of the social circles. But trust me, there is an endgame, even if it looks like all I'm doing is weeping." A single tear dropped down her cheek as the her robe slid partially down her shoulders.

"How about a riddle befitting you, and me to start out this lovely meal with, hm, Edward?" She'd indulge him.

[Deleted]

Edward Nigma always considered himself a man of the mind. He held great respect for intelligence, and strived for perfection in every aspect in his life. Selina Kyle radiated perfection. It was the allure he had towards her, witty and beautifully balanced on the moral compass. It’s why he had become so frustrated to see the perfect woman taking foolish actions. Her explanation was overdrawn and could almost be taken as defensive even if her tone was kept light and romantic. He had pressed a button obviously that Selina did not particularly wish to discuss. Then again, most do get defensive when you point out their flaws and force them to face them. Humanity always preferred ignorance.

Her smooth words did not trick his clever mind. She knew how she interacted with Bruce and the cop. Did she think that there weren’t security cameras on almost every street corner of Gotham? Did she think that he didn’t keep an eye on her? At the end of the day, she was a woman that couldn’t make up her mind, and did that make him jealous? He would never admit he was jealous to himself. No, he was merely noticing a change.

Her touches were distracting per usual. She could trick many into her trance, and while she considered his riddle more suited for Poison Ivy, he highly disagreed. Selina was a Rose. She attracted people to her and then pricked them with her thorns. He kept his breathing steady, even as her hips pressed against him and her legs wrapped around him. Her flimsy clothing would be easy to remove, but it was neither the time or place.

At the mention of Batman, he merely smirked. No, he had not forgotten. He had mentioned Bruce for that very reason, and he suspected she knew his true identity. It would explain why they spent so much time together. Then again, maybe she didn’t know. She let her finish her commentary and her performance that could be considered a professional lap dance.

He chuckled, his finger tracing the trigger.

Without warning, his other hand came up to her throat, choking her tightly and pulling her body up and slamming it down onto the table and on top of the plates and food. “Selina, you spend all of your time these days filling silences with unnecessary, and to be quite honest, dull commentaries about nothing. Why do you waste so much time on observing such pointless aspects such as clothing or jewelry? I remember when you didn’t have friends,” his voice was dark, Selina used to be fully independent, none of this nonsense of family or old friends. She was alone like him. “You say it is all for show, all an act, and I won’t lie dear, I never do, you are an amazing actress, but if you want to prove to me that it’s an act, then let’s play a game,” he smirked, his fingers tightening on her throat. “How about a game of truth or dare?” he yanked her off the table with the grip on her throat. He finally released it, grabbing his shoulder and pushing her to the window.

He was pushing her, baiting her. “You might have notice the truth serum I put in your coffee,” he said causally, as he walked calmly behind her, checking the time on his watch, “It should be taking into effect fair shortly.” He stopped right behind her. “So dear, truth or dare?”

[Deleted]

She smirked faintly at that, raising an eyebrow for a moment “Why Edward, you should know better. Don’t you know that truth is a woman’s prerogative and a lady never dares?” She smiles at him, “This isn’t the first time you’ve pulled this trick, Eddie. Drugging the food? You may not be able to teach an old dog new tricks, but then again, I’m no dog am I? I always land on my feet, and kitty has claws...” She smiled as she traced a finger over his jawbone, staring into his eyes, tracing the finger of her other hand down the rim of her robe, exposing the cleavage.

"You think just because I'm a woman that you can just come in here and intimidate me? That I'm so enthralled with your personality that I just go weak kneed and forget how to think? Do you think I'm Lola, Eddie? Do you think I'm some greasy Italian's moll who needs to be rescued by a big strong man?" She nearly purrs at him, the juxtaposition of action and words nearly perverse.


“I remember when you could surprise me, Eddie. I remember when you had respect for me. You’re no different than any other man. Predictable, eyes exactly where I’d expect. You want Catwoman? You say I’m all talk? Your whole deal is talk talk talk, riddle me this, let me show off that, I’m so smart. . . I play with my food, Eddie, until it gets boring, and then I kill it.” She smiles and makes a purring noise deep in her throat. She moves her head closer to the gun and kisses the side, then cants her head quickly to look at Eddie.


“Is this what you want Eddie? This the side of me you wanted to bring out? How did you expect this to play out, Eddie? That I'd listen to you and say 'You're so right, let me just suck you off right here.' That I'd say 'I never thought of it that way, I'm going to just leave my life, burn my bridges and run off with you? Do you think I'm Nina Stenet? That I'm Johnathan Crane?" She laughs at that a bit. One was her friend before she was his ex. The other she'd rather not comment on.

"You thought you could sneak in? You thought you could just awe me with your magnificent presence? My security systems give Batman trouble.” She smiles, parting her lips to show the black object rolling over her tongue before she closes her mouth again. “I steal from Lex Luthor.” She traces her finger down her robe, revealing more of the swell of her breast. “Did you think that just because you can hack into a few city security cameras and cut a few wires and play a few tricks that I don’t know you’re here? That you can just walk in and I’d lose control? That I can’t smell bacon when it’s being made? That I haven’t been attacked in my own home enough times that I don’t take precautions? That I didn’t know it was you before I even left the bathroom?” She smiles that sly feline grin as she stared deep into his eyes. "Of course you'd think I'd look like this fresh from the shower," she teases him.

She smiles as she flips the small glass container over the back of her hands, almost too quick for him to see. “I’m more graceful than you Eddie, there’s never been a better thief than me. There’s no better pickpocket in the world, and while you’re staring at these gorgeous eyes and trying so hard not to look down at this supple body pressed-" She folds into him again, the smell of perfume intoxicating, "...so delicately against you. . . you’re not paying attention to that bacon you finished while I sat in your lap. You sure as hell weren't paying attention to what I slipped into your pocket.”

She glares at him in the eyes. “Ooh, and you got so angry a moment ago. So manly, you picked me up, slammed me into the wall... That heart rate..” She leans forward to kiss him on the jaw, whispering into his ear. “Speeds up the metabolism, doesn't it Eddie? So I think I’ll let the action speak louder than words, the paralytic should be hitting now, your heart should be strong enough to keep beating, but then again that's what you wanted, wasn't it? The heartbreaker? That tingling sensation? That’s the first sign of it kicking in. The weakness in your knees? My good looks? You're too disciplined for that, aren't you. Did you steal a filter from LexCorp too? I don’t think you had the foresight. But maybe I’m wrong. Maybe you did plan this far ahead and you’ve outplayed this little kitty cat?"

Her green eyes narrow as she speaks with a dark frankness. "I’m deadly when cornered, Eddie.” She flips a small device from out of her cleavage, under her robe, flipping it over and holding it in her hand, then smiling, the purr back in her voice.

“So let’s play another game. One more to your liking, maybe. Since you’re so desperate to see this side of me, let’s see if you can keep up. You keep me entertained, and we keep the game going. You bore me and the game’s over.” She flips the switch back. “I call it cat,” she clamps down on the button, a deadman’s switch “and mouse.” She grins wildly with a killer’s smile, a little bit of perverse glee in her eyes.

[Deleted]

He felt fairly confident as she watched her back. He knew if Selina Kyle actually came out to play, he would have to avoid her claws, but he felt he could handle it. After all, it was necessary in his mind. Selina had gone soft and to be quite honest, dull, and if they were to continue this friendship or whatever they liked to call it, he couldn’t be spending his time with a dim witted socialite. He had no interest in it and no interest is watching his perfect woman bend to the norms of the moronic society, especially the GCPD. He still had that confident smirk plastered on his face as she turned to face him. He watched as she moved towards him once more, and how her hands once again along his skin. He waited, trying to see when the realization might click in her mind, but as the words begun to fall from her lips like lace, he could feel the table slowly shifting underneath him.

The smirk faltered and slowly tiled downwards, as he realized that maybe he hadn’t taken the precautions he had needed too. If she had switched out her coffee, or just not drank from it, that would certainly ruin his fun, though the accusation that followed started to anger him. It had nothing to do with her being a woman. It had to deal with her acting like same damn stepford wife. The fact that she would even accuse him of being so sexist, was outright insulting, but before he could even interrupt her she continued.

His hand at his side started to turn into a fist, anger flashing behind his brown eyes as he locked onto her green ones. “Respect is earned dear,” he muttered, and recently she hadn’t been taken the time to earn it. She had been throwing it away to people like Bruce Wayne and Harvey Bullock. However, as she kept speaking, he started to notice how in control she was. There was something more going on besides her avoiding his serum. She had something on him. Shit, what had he walked himself into? He had to admit, his heartbeat was increasing, a thrill of a challenge a riddle, the woman he had known before was reappearing before his eyes, and he had forgotten how frightening she was, especially when she was angry.

He doesn’t even notice how she is revealing more of her breast. How could anyone look away from her eyes when they were filled with so much fire as they are now? No, this is why he had fallen for Selina Kyle all those years ago. Why he always thought she was a woman far out of his leagues.

She had gotten one up on him. He had underestimated her and her value of their friendship. He knew she used her body, but he had never considered that she was slipping things into his pocket and his food. His fist started to loosen, not because he lacked anger. No, he was still fairly pissed off, but his body felt heavy, and he was having difficulties keeping himself stable.

He started to laugh as he swayed back and forth, running his hand through his hair and underneath his bowler cap. “Clever, playing my own trick against me,” he smirked, god, how could he be so stupid. Criminals never trust other criminals. He had assumed Selina trusted him. It was his own fault, but at least his planned had worked. He had shook her out of whatever dull mask she had been wearing. He stumbled towards the couch, tripping as he finally took a seat, his head and eyes turning to hers.

“I do like this side of you, Selina,” he said though his body felt far too heavy to move at all. He looked at the switch, likely some type of explosive or some other nasty equipment was now stuffed in his pocket. “You have gotten quite a few new toys,” he commented, his eyes turned towards Allen who had locked his gun on Selina. He frowned. “Allen, you can wait outside. I’ve never been afraid of a game,” he stated, turning his gaze to her.

Allen grunted, putting down his weapon before leaving out the door. There was no reason in him attempting to shoot her. She would likely immobilize him and if she didn’t a shot might cause her to drop the trigger. “Entertain you? The mighty cat? If you’ve watched Tom & Jerry, dear, you would know the mouse has the mind and talent,” he smirked, before he ran his tongue along his bottom lip in thought. He certainly was in a predicament.

“Riddle me this, what is in my pocket?”

[Deleted]

"Now that would be telling, Eddie, why spoil the mystery when the solution is so..." she pushes him down to the couch, as it's not so hard to do now. She smiles as she whispers into his ear "...explosive." She flips the deadman's switch over in her hand again and says "You think I've grown soft, you think I'm dull. See, Eddie, your problem is you're predictable. I try a new and lighter way to get what I want, and suddenly you're crying about how you lost the real Selina and how I'm diminishing myself... Eddie, I've won. I've got everything I want, and the path to get more. You think you've gotten me back? You've reminded me of who I am? I thought you were good at riddles, Eddie. But I suppose that the feminine mystique is the greatest riddle of them all." She sat on his lap once more as he sat paralyzed on the sofa, kicking her feet as she considered the dead man's switch in her hand, feeling the heft and weight of the device as she toyed idly with it.

She sat thoughtfully, carefully. "You're here trying to rebuild your life, while I have two of the richest men in the world vying for my attention, and a direct line into city politics and law enforcement and all I had to do was play the part, let these men just give me everything I want." She smiled as Allen came to hold the gun, to play with the bullets. There was something satisfying about mutually assured destruction, the understanding that once you cross a certain line that you have total control. Selina smiled at the statement at the end. "Eddie, that's a cartoon. This is real life, and there's no points awarded for playing the underdog."

"What did you think you'd accomplish with all this, Eddie? Honestly. That I'd just give up everything I've gained out of a sense of pride if you just explained it to me? That you could just break in and . . . what?"

[Deleted]

His body fell back onto the couch, as his ability to hold himself up against gravity became too much. He would have to research a reason why women so truly enjoyed paralyzing him. He certainly wasn’t a hand combat expert. He could stand his own in a fight, but as multiple instances with the Batman had proven, when fist were thrown, he usually hit the ground with broken bones and bruises. No, Edward was a man of the mind not of bronze, so why then did everyone feel the need to enable his movements? It was becoming to a point of frustration.

Her word lingered on his ear as she whispered against it. He had suspected something explosive, but he hardly doubted Selina would be blowing herself up in the process. She certainly wasn’t a suicide bomber, though that didn’t make him any more comfortable with an explosive being in his pocket. Selina slipped into his lap, and he could do nothing but accept her presence on top of him. Like a cat, she enjoyed taunting her prey it seemed. Control. Edward prided himself on control and constantly having it in his hands, and yet now, she ripped it away from him and like a sore winner she was rubbing his face in it.

However, as she spoke, a small smirk pulled at the edge of his lips. Oh Selina, do you not remember I wanted to play truth or dare? He thought to himself. And here, she was laying on the truth without him having to do anything, but wait and listen. He respectfully would admit that Selina was an expert in breaking and entering, but everyone in Gotham knew that if you wanted something hacked, you went to the Riddler. He let her speak as most women so enjoy doing, let her take her anger out on him instead of the cool night air like she used too.

“We both know I am no underdog, and even in this state you would be quite foolish to understatement me, dear,” he smirked, his mind thinking of how to perfect that line she said was, and how perfect even an idiot like Deidre would know what to do with it. The plan after all was to bring back his beloved friend Selina who had gotten herself stuck in the social muck of the elite and ignorant, and how could that be possible if the men beneath her were still showering her with false promises, and as the hacker he was, he had of course gotten into her security cameras and had been recording it all waiting for the perfect statement. The absolutely perfect statement.

I have two of the richest men in the world vying for my attention, and a direct line into city politics and law enforcement and all I had to do was play the part, let these men just give me everything I want.

Oh Selina. He had showed Deidre how to edit video and told her to send the best line to Mr. Wayne, Mr. Luthor, and that idiotic cop at Edward’s go ahead. Now, some would consider this an action out of jealousy, but as far as he was concerned, he wanted to destroy her relationship with Bruce Wayne and to do that sometimes you needed to play dirty.

“Selina,” he started only to stop. He didn’t know how to say this without sounding like a pathetic teenage jealous boyfriend, which Edward certainly was not! He definitely was not jealous, and he definitely was doing this for some other all thought through plan. “You were the woman who captivated me since the moment you left me to the cops during that heist where we first met, and to be quite honest, the longest woman to ever captivate me, and the only woman I have ever called a friend. Is it so difficult to believe that when I watch you dull yourself down to stupidity, that it might slightly piss me off?” his tone lowered, “I do not give the title of friendship to just any average joe on the street, I hold the people who grace that title at a higher standard, so please, forgive me for coming to my friend when I see her acting like an idiot.” His eyes narrowed. Anger flashed underneath his eyes, even though he couldn’t move it didn’t destroy his ability to glare.

“Did you really think I would sit back and do nothing while you played me like I was some ignorant virgin?” he growled, the true reasoning behind all of this bleeding through his emotions and words, “I don’t share, and I especially don’t do one in a hand of cards. If you pick up my card, you never pick up another card again.”