here kitty kitty

“Trust me, it wasn’t mine either. Got voluntold to do it most of the time.” Again, although he didn’t mind it in the end, he had always been annoyed when he was simply told to cover a class. “No problem. If you feel the need to run the lesson plan by, let me know. Feel bad for ya goin in blind without a practice run.” He gives her a nod of confirmation when she gives him her name. “Nice to meet ya too Selina.” The mutant can’t help but give a scoffed laugh at the woman’s next words. Placing his fist upon the counter top while he slowly extends the claws out of his knuckles before pulling them back in showing how his knuckles healed quickly. “Wish I could take credit for buildin’ my tolerance up. But that shit is genetic.” 

.

     “Oh, really? I just don’t know if I have the patience. I was hard enough on myself when I had to learn everything...who know what will happen until it’s actually happening, though, right?” Selina shrugged weakly. Optimism wasn’t exactly her thing either, but it seemed better than standing there feeling sorry for herself. “That would actually be really helpful. You’re too kind” she smiled over at him, pouring him another drink before placing it ontop of the bar. “That one’s on me” Selina probably should have been more surprised as she watched claws pierce through his skin but she had seen enough back in Gotham City to keep her awake on some nights. “Metahuman?”

-

Babs couldn’t help but smirk as Selina spoke, knowing full well who the other woman was thinking about. She would be connected to Jim Gordon for the rest of her life; even though they weren’t together anymore, they had two children. That connection sometimes put pressure on her other relationships, but she was quick to assure anyone who asked that whatever feelings she’d had for Jim were long gone. “Mmm, I guess so,” the little boy agreed. “I t’ink it’s good to be friends. You can be friends w’it anyone if you try. Dat’s what I t’ink.” He beamed as she confirmed a week was seven days, clearly pleased with himself. “T’anks, I’ve been learning,” he said. “I can spell my name, too.” Babs just grinned at her friend as she looked at her over the top of Peter’s strawberry-blonde head. Peter giggled. “Yeah, it’ll be fun!” he said brightly. “Do you like spwinkles?”

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     “You’re a sweet boy, you know that?” Selina smiled softly. She didn’t see a way that she could ever be friend with Jim, but she wasn’t about to crush Peter’s spirit. It was nice that he was so open and hopeful when it came to others, she only hoped that he wouldn’t ever be taken advantage of because of it. “Your name too? That’s so awesome. A lot of people spell my name wrong, but that’s okay” In fact, it had actually worked in Selina’s favour in some cases. “I love sprinkles, they’re the best part...what kind of cake do you like?”

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     “Hi, excuse me...if you were a toddler which of these cats would you prefer as a birthday gift? And don’t you dare say he’s a toddler, he won’t know the difference because he’ll know. It has to be the best cat” Not that there were any bad cats, after all, Selina was definitely going to keep the one that she didn’t gift to Peter on his birthday, but that was beside the point. “You looked like a cat guy” she shrugged by way of an explanation for her bothering him. 

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     “Alright - Taking in stray kids as if they’re going out of fashion might be Batman’s whole thing but I only take in cats so you’re barking up the wrong tree here entirely, mister..” Selina rose her brows, eyes raking over the boy a few times just to make sure that he wasn’t actually hurt before she drew closer to the steps leading up to her apartment building where she had found him. “What’s wrong? Seriously. I will listen, but don’t expect any advice if you can’t take constructive criticism” And bluntly, at that. 

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     “You don’t happen to know where a lady can get a drink around here, do you?” Selina asked, approaching the other woman before she leaned against the wall, exhaling a sigh as she crossed her arms over her chest. “Extremely long day, it’s better that you don’t ask” she shook her head before turning her full attention to the stranger. “I’ll even buy you one if you’re willing to give me some directions” she gave a cat like grin. 

-

A smirk touched Pam’s lips as Selina responded to her proposition just as she suspected she would. She hadn’t doubted that Selina would be interested – the cat did love her diamonds, after all – but it was still pleasant to hear her express that interest. She normally didn’t enjoy working with partners, but Selina was an exception. And if she could give Selina something she wanted now, maybe Selina would return the favor if the opportunity came around. “They are,” she agreed, with a faint smile. “And they do suit you.” She smiled again. “Not to mention there’s nothing wrong with discomfiting the rich, now is there?” Pam chuckled faintly. “In any case, I’m sure there are plenty of places like this in the city. For you to fall back on between jobs.”

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     Selina smirked softly as she looked over at Pam. No wonder her friend had walked in with so much confidence; she knew that this was an offer that the cat would never refuse. “They do, don’t they?” she grinned. “Oh, that’s almost the best part, Pam. Almost” The diamonds were the best part, but there was definitely a satisfaction that was unmatched in taking from the rich. “Oh, for sure. There’s dives like this everywhere and me? I’m so charming that they hire me without really asking any questions, so” the cat gave a light shrug. “Is Harley coming?” It was fine if not, but Selina wouldn’t deny that it would have been nostalgic to reunite the Gotham City Sirens. 

Selina Kyle. 

“A ‘friend’ friend?” He asked, a wiggle of his eyes in the suggestion of it. “And when you say catching up…” At least with that part he was teasing her, if it had been that she would have come in with a whole different type of smile on her face. “Waiting on someone.” He shrugged. “Been waiting a bit though, so I may have been ghosted.” Theo mused. “Maybe my company just isn’tt good enough for them. Who knows.” He took a sip of his drink trying not to let it bother him. 

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     “I don’t know what you could possibly mean” Selina shook her head, although, her smirk told the real truth. “I mean that we talked!” she laughed, mostly in disbelief that Theo was so upfront about it. She probably should have expected such a question from him, but that was beside the point. “Waiting on a ‘friend’ friend?” she couldn’t resist the urge to tease him back. “That might not be it...maybe their car broke down or something...or they just have terrible taste in company”

.

Bruce looked at the other rolling his eyes he remembered those days quite well, the little rich boy and street smart girl, who know this was where that story ended up. “Jason and Damian are the most work, they have their own lives that at times don’t include me, I have so much to make up for with them both but I’m trying. The rest seemed to be alright when I think about it,” He mused honestly that alot of them could very much take care of themselves without issue but he wanted to let them all know his place was open. “I have, even the most difficult ones” He joked looking at the other.

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     Selina paused, moving to put her hand on Bruce’s chest as she looked up at him. “It will be hard work and it might take some time for them to open up to you but they will appreciate the effort, even if they’re not forthcoming about it” she sighed. Not unlike Bruce, his children weren’t exactly the most open and honest when it came to their feelings. It wasn’t a terrible thing in their line of work but as people? It could cost them relationships if they weren’t careful. “Trying is the important thing” It was more than her mother had ever done for her. “I’m glad that you’re back then...for them”

-

Pam smiled faintly and shrugged. “There’s a first time for everything,” she pointed out dryly. “Although I do have to admit, I have a little…project that I think you may find interesting.” She leaned against the bar as Selina began to wipe it down. “There’s a certain mining company which is happily destroying the environment in pursuit of diamonds,” she said.  “Which they happen to ferry to their headquarters here in the city. I felt it was an opportunity for both of us to get what we want.”

.

     “There is” she couldn’t deny that, but it did seem out of character for the redhead. Harley was always more for casual drop ins. “Oh?” Now that caught her attention. She abandoned the cloth, moving to press her palms to the bar as she listened intently. “Well...diamonds are a girl’s best friend” she smirked widely. Selina knew that Pam cared more about the environmental damage than the jewels but tomato, tomato. “I’m in. This place really isn’t worth it” Not even for the watches that she was managing to slip into her pockets. 

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Bruce looked at the other smirking softly “Yeah, that was a rather fun night, I remember being quite the wet pup to your skilled cat like reflects” He teased before nodding his head he understood one City always seemed so like another, and New York was close enough to Gotham that he could navigate around it. “I admit I also like that aspect of things, and while there is a crime it’s not as horrific as it is back home. I’m settling in, checking in on all my children, and seeing what  they are up to.”

.

     She teased him endlessly for it, but she had found it incredibly endearing back then and she still did now. Gotham City had hardened that once soft and naive boy that she had first met, however, and while it was probably inevitable, it saddened Selina deeply. “Are they alright?” She wasn’t close to all of Bruce’s children, but they meant the world to him. It was the least that she could do to take an interest in their wellbeing. Especially considering how often she was likely to see Bruce now that they were in the same city again. “I’m sure you missed them”