catwoman returns

[Catwoman]

chapter 4

"bruce, i am so, so, so sorry!" selina said, mortified. "its okay," he replied, rather annoyed. "i'm used to doors slamming shut in my face."

as bruce sat on selina's sofa, pressing the towel to his bloodied nose, selina nervously paced back and forth. finally she stop and faced him. "i...i...i just didn't expect...to see...YOU...HERE!" "ditto," bruce said without looking at her. she dropped to her knees in front of him. "it was an accident! i swear!" bruce took the towel from his face and looked at her. "selina."

"yes?"

"no, just, selina...you're here. in gotham...how long?" "well i came back about four years ag-" "FOUR YEARS? how did you stay hidden from me?" "i stayed hidden from everyone. used an alias, you know, all that good stuff." "oh, is that the reason for this?" bruce asked, motioning at her dark brown hair. "well, yes, it is," she replied with a sheepish giggle. he studied it for a moment before declaring "i don't like it." selina burst into laughter. "well gee, tell me how you really feel!" bruce allowed himself a light chuckle.

they were both so stunned to see each other that such simple topics as selina's "brunette from a bottle" were all they talked about . nevermind that they hadn't seen each other in seven years...and that they had longed for one another's company for just as long.

within a few days, all the inevitable questions had been answered. as bruce (and selina) wished, her hair regained it's natural blonde, curly appearance, though through artificial means. she had quit her job at the bookstore, though her now-former co-workers were so stunned to see bruce wayne standing before them that they barely noticed her goodbyes. and selina returned to bruce's mansion for the first time since she and bruce embraced on his couch only to be interrupted by the news of the ice princess's kidnapping. this time, it wasn't for dinner and a movie or a one-night-stand.

she was officially wayne manor's new resident.

"it's so different," selina said to herself as she toured her new home. it's physical appearance had changed little since she had last been here. it was the atmosphere within wayne manor that had changed. despite its immense size, she recalled the strange feeling of warmth and coziness when there with bruce and alfred. now, it seemed large, cold, and empty, though it was anything but. after alfred's death, rather than one butler handling all the chores with his warm british charm, a group of italian maids did it quckly, though effeciently, and usually without a single word.

in addition, though he didn't plan to be living there much longer, dick still called wayne manor home, and on any given night he was likely to be in the company of friends or a girl (or five). his playboy antics annoyed bruce, who had led a similar lifestyle as a front to protect his identity, but dick was too busy showing off his "crib" to notice his mentor's complaints. when selina introduced herself to dick as he walked past her, he gave her little more than a "what's up?" before continuing on his way. a girl was waiting for him at the gates outside. "charming kid," she said, rolling her eyes.

"you have no idea," she heard bruce say behind her, startling her slightly. "is that the acrobat kid you took in after his parents got killed?" "yes, but don't say that near him. he's 'all grown up,' as he's so fond of telling me." the chagrin in bruce's voice told selina that dick was probably going to be off of bruce's coat-tails soon.

she decided to ease bruce's temper. "wow, it's been so long since i've seen this place, and yet, it seems so familiar!" she said in spite of her earlier comment. bruce nodded. "if i listen hard enough its like alfred is here, talking to me," she continued with a slight laugh. bruce just looked at her for a moment. "you hear it too, huh?" he said gruffly before turning and walking away. "damnit, damnit, damnit," selina said once he disappeared down the stairs. she felt two inches tall. her attempt to maybe help bruce's disposition had only made it worse.

she sighed and continued her personal, self-led tour.

[johnnygobbs]

Wow!  Great stuff Catwoman.  Glad to have you back.  That might be my favourite chapter of yours for this story so far.  Only one 'issue', if you can call it that.  How come Robin is such a d@@k?

[Catwoman]

young 'n dumb.