M.

A couple of nights later, Gotham felt colder than usual.

Not just the kind of cold that came with wind cutting through thin jackets or rain soaking through worn-out shoes—but the kind that settled deep in your bones, heavy and stubborn, like the city itself was in a bad mood.

Rain poured steadily from the sky, turning the Narrows into a maze of slick pavement and shadowy corners. Water dripped from fire escapes, pooled in uneven cracks in the ground, and ran in thin streams down alleyways that already looked like they'd seen too much.

Luna and Selina walked side by side through one of those alleys, shoulders slightly hunched against the rain. Luna had her jacket pulled tighter around herself, though it didn't do much good anymore—it was already damp, clinging to her arms.

"This," Luna muttered, kicking a small puddle as they passed it, "is officially the worst weather."

Selina didn't slow down. "You say that every time it rains."

"Because every time it rains, it's worse," Luna shot back, pushing wet hair out of her face. "There's no winning here. It's either freezing, raining, or both."

Selina hummed quietly, clearly not that bothered.

Luna glanced at her, squinting slightly. "You're way too okay with this."

"I've had worse," Selina said simply.

Luna opened her mouth to respond—

Then stopped.

Her steps slowed.

"...Wait."

Selina paused a second later, turning slightly. "What?"

Luna didn't answer right away. Her eyes had already shifted past Selina, focusing on something further down the alley.

Something small.

Something... still.

"...Selina," she said again, quieter this time.

Selina followed her gaze.

And immediately, her expression changed.

Tucked into the corner of the alley, partially shielded by a broken piece of wood leaning against the wall, was a cardboard box. It looked like any other piece of trash someone had tossed aside—until you looked closer.

There was someone inside it.

Curled in on herself, barely moving.

Rain had soaked through the box, dripping down onto her, matting strands of red hair against her face.

Ivy Pepper.

Luna didn't hesitate.

She moved first, stepping quickly through the puddles, crouching down beside the box. "Hey—hey, Ivy—"

No response.

Up close, it was worse.

Ivy's skin looked pale, too pale, her breathing shallow and uneven. She was shivering—barely—but enough that it made Luna's chest tighten.

"Hey," Luna tried again, gentler this time, reaching out to lightly touch her shoulder. "Ivy, it's me."

Ivy stirred slightly at that, her eyes fluttering open just a fraction before slipping shut again. A faint sound left her—something between a groan and a breath.

Selina crouched down beside them, her movements quick but controlled. "She's sick."

"Yeah, I can see that," Luna muttered, worry creeping into her voice despite how she tried to keep it steady. She brushed damp hair away from Ivy's face, frowning. "She's freezing."

Selina glanced around the alley, already thinking ahead. "We can't leave her here."

Luna shot her a look. "Obviously."

There was no argument there.

Not even a question.

Luna shifted carefully, sliding one arm under Ivy's shoulders, trying to lift her without jostling her too much. "Come on," she murmured softly. "We've got you."

Ivy barely reacted, her head lolling slightly against Luna as they helped her up.

Selina moved to support her other side, steady and silent as always. "We need somewhere dry."

Luna adjusted her grip, trying to keep Ivy as close as possible for warmth. "Yeah, no kidding. Where?"

Selina didn't answer right away.

She just stood, already starting to move.

"Selina," Luna pressed, struggling slightly to keep Ivy balanced as they walked. "Where are we going?"

"You'll see," Selina said.

Luna narrowed her eyes. "I don't like that answer."

"You'll be fine."

"That's not reassuring," Luna muttered, but she followed anyway.

Because she trusted her.

They moved quickly through the streets, sticking to darker paths, avoiding attention. The rain didn't let up, soaking through everything, but Luna barely noticed anymore—her focus was entirely on Ivy.

"Stay with me," she murmured every so often, even when Ivy didn't respond. "You're okay. We've got you."

Selina led the way without hesitation, weaving through streets and turning corners like she knew exactly where she was going.

Which—

Luna definitely noticed.

After a while, the streets started to change.

Less broken.

Less crowded.

Cleaner.

Luna's steps slowed slightly, her eyes flicking around as realization started to creep in.

"...Selina," she said slowly, "where are we?"

Selina didn't answer.

They stopped in front of a building that was very much not part of the Narrows.

Tall. Clean. Expensive.

Luna stared up at it, blinking rain out of her eyes. "...No."

Selina stepped toward the entrance.

"Selina," Luna repeated, more incredulous now, "how do you even—what—how are we here?"

Selina just shrugged, like it was nothing.

Like this was normal.

Luna let out a short, disbelieving laugh. "You're kidding."

They got inside anyway.

Luna didn't even question how Selina managed it—whether it was picking a lock, slipping past someone, or something else entirely. At this point, she wasn't even surprised.

Everything inside was warm.

Dry.

Quiet.

It felt wrong.

But Ivy needed it.

That was the only thing that mattered.

They made their way upstairs, Luna still supporting most of Ivy's weight, her arms starting to ache but not once complaining.

"Please tell me this place is empty," she muttered.

"It is," Selina replied.

"You're sure?"

"Yes."

Luna eyed her suspiciously. "You've said things like that before."

Selina didn't respond.

That didn't help.

They stopped in front of a door, and Selina pushed it open without hesitation.

The space inside was—

Huge.

Elegant.

Nothing like anywhere they'd ever been.

Luna stepped inside slowly, taking it in despite herself.

"...Okay," she said under her breath, "I'm starting to notice a pattern with you and breaking into rich people places."

Selina ignored that, moving further in. "Put her down here."

Luna carefully helped Ivy onto a couch, adjusting her so she was lying comfortably. She immediately pulled off her own jacket—damp as it was—and draped it over her anyway, like it might help.

"...She's burning up," Luna said, pressing the back of her hand lightly to Ivy's forehead.

Selina moved around the room, grabbing a blanket without hesitation—like she'd been here before.

Which—

Luna noticed that too.

She glanced around again, slower this time, piecing things together.

"...Selina," she said, narrowing her eyes slightly, "whose place is this?"

Selina didn't look at her as she handed over the blanket.

"Barbara Kean's," she said simply.

Luna blinked.

"...Of course it is."

She let out a quiet, almost disbelieving laugh, shaking her head as she tucked the blanket more securely around Ivy.

"Right," she added. "Because why not add another rich person to the list?"

Selina finally glanced at her.

Luna met her gaze, one brow raised.

"...Seriously," she said, softer now but still laced with that familiar sarcasm, "how do you even get into these places?"

Selina shrugged again.

Like it was nothing.

Like it didn't matter.

Luna stared at her for a second longer—

Then huffed out a breath, shaking her head as she looked back down at Ivy.

"...You're unbelievable," she muttered.

But there was no real bite to it.

Because right now?

All that mattered was that Ivy wasn't out in the rain anymore.

The second Ivy was settled—even just barely—Luna was already moving.

She didn't linger, didn't hesitate, didn't stand around trying to figure out what to do next.

She just... did.

"Stay with her," Luna said quickly, already halfway to the kitchen area, her voice sharper than usual—not mean, just focused. "Make sure she doesn't, I don't know, roll off or something."

Selina, crouched beside Ivy, glanced up at her. "She's not going to roll off."

"Just—watch her," Luna insisted, not even turning back. "Please."

Selina didn't argue after that.

Because she knew that tone.

Luna slipped into the kitchen, her eyes immediately scanning everything like she was mapping it out in seconds. It was bigger than any kitchen she'd ever been in—clean countertops, polished surfaces, everything in its place like it had barely been touched.

"...Of course," Luna muttered under her breath, already moving toward the fridge. "Everything's probably labeled and organized and—"

She yanked it open.

Light spilled out, bright against the dim apartment.

And Luna blinked.

"...Okay," she said slowly, leaning in slightly. "That is... a lot of options."

The fridge was full. Not just scraps or leftovers or half-empty containers like she was used to seeing when she managed to get into places like this—but actual food. Fresh food. Drinks. Things she didn't even recognize immediately.

For a second, she just stared.

Then she shook her head quickly, snapping herself out of it.

"Focus," she muttered, reaching in and pulling a couple things out. "Not the time to be impressed."

She grabbed a bottle of water first, then hesitated before grabbing something else—juice, maybe—before closing the fridge with her hip.

Her attention shifted to the cabinets next.

She moved fast, opening one after another, barely pausing between them.

Plates.

Glasses.

More things that looked too nice to use.

"Come on..." she murmured, more to herself than anything, scanning for anything useful. "There's gotta be something—"

Another cabinet.

This one—

Bingo.

"...Yes," Luna breathed, reaching up quickly.

A small box of basic medical supplies—nothing huge, nothing like a full kit, but enough. Bandages, some antiseptic, a thermometer still in its packaging.

Not perfect.

But better than nothing.

She pulled it down carefully, setting it on the counter before opening it, her movements quick but practiced.

Because this?

This part—

This wasn't new.

Luna had been doing this for years.

Long before Bruce Wayne's mansion.

Long before sneaking into penthouses.

Back when it was just her, Selina, and whatever scraps of the Narrows they could survive on.

Back when getting sick wasn't something you waited out.

It was something you fought through—or didn't.

Luna swallowed slightly, her hands pausing for just a second as an old memory flickered through her mind—

Cold nights.

Kids huddled together for warmth.

Someone coughing too much, too hard.

No medicine.

No help.

Just—

Her.

Trying to fix things she didn't really know how to fix.

She exhaled slowly, steadying herself, then got back to work.

She grabbed the thermometer, a clean cloth, and a small bottle of something that looked like it might help—checking the label quickly before deciding it was at least worth trying.

Then she turned, heading back toward the living area.

Selina looked up immediately as she approached, still crouched beside Ivy.

"How is she?" Luna asked quickly, setting everything down on the table nearby.

"Same," Selina said, quieter now.

Luna nodded once, already kneeling beside Ivy again.

Up close, it hadn't gotten better.

If anything, Ivy looked worse—her breathing still uneven, her skin flushed now instead of pale.

"Hey," Luna murmured, softer this time, brushing a damp strand of hair away from Ivy's face. "I'm back."

Ivy didn't respond.

Luna didn't expect her to.

She reached for the thermometer, carefully placing it under Ivy's tongue—or trying to, adjusting slightly when Ivy didn't cooperate much.

"C'mon," she muttered gently. "Work with me here."

Selina watched quietly, her arms resting loosely on her knees.

"...You know what you're doing?" she asked after a moment.

Luna didn't look up. "Enough."

Selina tilted her head slightly. "That's not very reassuring."

Luna huffed softly. "It's more than you do."

Selina didn't argue with that.

Because it was true.

Selina had never been good with this kind of thing.

Fights? Stealing? Getting in and out of places unnoticed?

That was easy.

But this?

Sickness. Weakness. Taking care of someone who couldn't take care of themselves?

That was Luna.

Always had been.

"Hold this," Luna said suddenly, handing Selina the cloth without looking.

Selina took it automatically. "What am I doing?"

"Just—hold it," Luna repeated, already reaching for the water. "I'll tell you in a second."

Selina glanced down at the cloth, then back at Luna, clearly out of her element—but she stayed.

Because Luna needed her to.

Luna checked the thermometer, her brows knitting together slightly at the number.

"...Yeah," she muttered. "That's not great."

Selina frowned. "How bad?"

"Bad enough," Luna said, not sugarcoating it but not making it worse either. She took the cloth back, dampening it slightly before gently pressing it against Ivy's forehead.

Ivy flinched weakly at the contact.

"It's okay," Luna murmured immediately, her voice softening again. "I know, I know. Just trying to help."

Selina watched her for a moment, something quieter in her expression now.

"...You've done this a lot," she said.

Luna shrugged lightly, though her focus never left Ivy. "Yeah."

Selina didn't push.

Didn't ask.

She already knew enough.

But Luna kept talking anyway—because that's what she did.

"...Used to help the kids back in the Narrows," she said, adjusting the cloth slightly. "When they got sick. Couldn't just leave them."

Selina's gaze dropped briefly.

She remembered.

Of course she did.

Luna sneaking out at night, coming back with whatever she could find—sometimes food, sometimes supplies, sometimes things she definitely wasn't supposed to have.

"...You stole from pharmacies," Selina said quietly.

Luna glanced up at her for a second, one corner of her mouth lifting faintly. "Borrowed."

Selina huffed softly.

"Right."

Luna looked back down at Ivy, her expression softening again.

"Did what I had to," she added simply.

There wasn't anything dramatic about the way she said it.

No pride.

No regret.

Just—

Fact.

She adjusted the blanket around Ivy more securely, making sure she was as warm as possible.

"...She'll be okay," Luna said after a moment, quieter now—but more to reassure Selina than herself.

Selina nodded once.

She trusted her.

Because when it came to this?

The next afternoon felt... off.

Luna noticed it the second she woke up.

Not because anything was obviously wrong—the Narrows sounded the same, the distant noise bleeding through the broken windows, the floor still creaking under the slightest shift—but because something felt different. Quieter, maybe. Or just... emptier.

She sat up slowly, rubbing the sleep from her eyes as she glanced around the abandoned house. The light coming through the cracks in the boards was brighter than it had been when she woke up the day before, which meant she'd slept longer than usual.

Which also meant—

Selina was gone.

Again.

Luna stared at the spot where Selina usually slept, brows knitting together slightly. The blankets were tossed aside, like she'd left in a hurry—or just didn't care enough to fix them. Which, honestly, tracked.

"...Okay," Luna muttered to herself, dragging a hand through her hair. "Cool. Not weird at all."

Except it was.

Because this wasn't just a one-time thing anymore.

For the past couple weeks, Selina had been... different. Not in a huge, obvious way—she still acted like Selina, still moved the same, talked the same—but she'd been leaving more. Disappearing for hours at a time, sometimes most of the day, and coming back with that same quiet look on her face like nothing had happened.

And every time Luna asked?

She got nothing.

A shrug. A vague answer. A subject change.

At first, Luna hadn't thought much of it. Selina did her own thing sometimes—that wasn't new. But this?

This was consistent.

And Luna didn't like consistent when it came with secrets.

She let out a slow breath, pushing herself to her feet. "Whatever," she muttered, even though it definitely wasn't whatever. "She'll show up."

Selina always showed up.

Still, Luna didn't sit around waiting.

She left the house not long after, shoving her hands into her jacket pockets as she stepped out into the afternoon light. The Narrows was alive as usual—louder now, busier, people moving in every direction. It should've felt normal.

It didn't.

Luna wandered for a while, sticking to the streets she knew best, her usual confidence just a little bit sharper around the edges. She talked to a couple people, picked up scraps of conversation, kept herself distracted the way she always did.

But every so often, her eyes would flick toward the crowd, like she expected to spot Selina slipping through it.

She didn't.

By the time she made her way back to the house, the sun had started to dip, shadows stretching longer across the broken pavement.

And that's when she saw her.

Selina was already there.

Leaning casually against the wall near the entrance like she hadn't been gone all day, like she hadn't left Luna wondering where she'd disappeared to—again.

Luna stopped short for a second, blinking.

"...Okay," she said slowly, stepping closer. "There you are."

Selina glanced up at her, expression unreadable as ever. "You just get back?"

Luna let out a short laugh, incredulous. "Yeah, I just get back. I was out. You know—like you've been. A lot. Recently."

Selina didn't respond to that right away, which only made Luna's suspicion grow.

She crossed her arms, tilting her head slightly. "Alright," she said, her tone lighter than she felt. "I'm gonna ask this once, and you're actually gonna answer me this time."

Selina's gaze flicked toward her, wary now. "Answer what?"

"Where have you been?"

There it was.

Simple question.

Selina looked away first.

That was new.

Luna noticed immediately, her eyes narrowing just a fraction. "Selina."

"It's nothing," Selina said quickly.

"Oh, it's definitely not nothing," Luna shot back. "You've been disappearing for weeks. You think I wouldn't notice?"

Selina pushed off the wall, pacing a couple steps like she needed something to do with the energy. "I've just been... around."

Luna stared at her. "Wow. Great answer. Super helpful. Really clears everything up."

Selina sighed, clearly already annoyed. "What do you want me to say?"

"The truth would be a great start," Luna replied, her voice still edged with that usual sarcasm—but there was something else there now, too. Frustration. "You don't just vanish like that for no reason."

Selina hesitated.

And that hesitation?

That was all Luna needed to know she was right.

She stepped closer, lowering her voice slightly. "Selina, come on. Just tell me."

For a second, it looked like Selina might brush it off again. Like she'd shrug and walk away and leave Luna with nothing but another half-answer.

But then she exhaled, long and tired, like she was giving in to something she didn't really want to deal with.

"...I've been hanging out with someone," she admitted.

Luna blinked.

"...Okay?" she said slowly. "That's not illegal. Last I checked."

Selina shot her a look. "Just—let me finish."

Luna held up her hands in surrender. "Go ahead. I'm listening."

Selina hesitated again, then muttered, almost like she didn't want the words to exist once they were out there—

"...I'm kind of... maybe friends with Bruce Wayne."

There was a pause.

A long one.

Luna stared at her.

And then—

She burst out laughing.

Not just a small laugh—full-on, head-tilting-back, can't-even-help-it laughter.

"Oh my god," she wheezed, clutching her side slightly. "That is—wow. That's a good one. You almost had me for a second."

Selina didn't laugh.

That should've been Luna's first clue.

Instead, she kept going, shaking her head as she tried to catch her breath. "No, seriously, that's—Bruce Wayne? Like, the Bruce Wayne? Richest kid in Gotham, lives in a literal mansion, probably has people whose job is to breathe for him?"

Selina crossed her arms. "Yeah. That one."

Luna pointed at her, grin still wide. "Yeah, okay. Sure. And I'm best friends with the mayor."

"I'm serious."

That made Luna pause—just slightly.

She squinted at Selina, trying to read her expression.

Selina didn't look like she was joking.

Which... no. That didn't make any sense.

"...You're serious," Luna repeated slowly.

"Yes."

Luna blinked again, the laughter fading into something more confused than amused. "Selina, that's—no. That's not a thing. That doesn't happen."

"It does," Selina said, a little sharper now.

"How?" Luna demanded, throwing her hands up. "How do you just casually become friends with Bruce Wayne?"

Selina shrugged, but it wasn't as dismissive as usual. "I met him."

"Oh, wow, really? You met him?" Luna said, her sarcasm snapping back instantly. "That clears everything up. Case closed."

Selina rolled her eyes. "You asked."

"Yeah, I asked for the truth, not—whatever this is."

Selina's expression hardened slightly. "I am telling the truth."

Luna shook her head, pacing a step or two like she was trying to process it and failing. "No, you're not. There's no way. You—Selina, we live in the Narrows. He lives in a mansion. Those worlds don't just... overlap."

"They did."

Luna stopped, turning back to her. "And what, he just—what? Invited you in? Decided you were interesting? That's it?"

Selina didn't answer right away.

Which, again, was an answer.

Luna let out a breath, dragging a hand over her face. "This is insane."

"I told you," Selina muttered.

"Yeah, and I didn't believe you," Luna shot back. "Because it sounds fake."

Selina looked at her then, really looked at her, something flickering behind her eyes. "It's not."

There was a beat of silence.

Luna held her gaze, searching for any sign that this was a joke, that Selina was going to crack and admit it.

She didn't.

And slowly—very slowly—that confusion started to settle into something else.

Something sharper.

"...You're actually serious," Luna said again, quieter this time.

Selina nodded once.

Luna let out a short, disbelieving laugh, but it didn't have the same energy as before. "Wow."

She shook her head, glancing away for a second before looking back at her. "Okay. Fine. Let's say—hypothetically—I believe you."

Selina didn't interrupt.

Luna crossed her arms, mirroring her stance now. "Why didn't you tell me?"

That question landed heavier than the others.

Selina hesitated.

"...I don't know," she admitted.

Luna stared at her.

"Yeah," she said after a moment. "That's kind of the problem."

The air between them shifted, just slightly.

Not broken.

But not as easy as it had been before.

And Luna wasn't sure if it was because of what Selina had said—

Or because, for the first time in a long time, she felt like she wasn't part of something Selina wasn't telling her about.

Luna still wasn't entirely sure how she'd agreed to it.

If anyone had asked her—really asked her—she would've said she didn't care. That it didn't matter. That Selina's weird, totally unbelievable story about being "friends" with Bruce Wayne wasn't worth her time.

And yet—

There she was.

Halfway up the side of a literal mansion, fingers gripping the edge of a window frame as she hauled herself up with a quiet grunt.

"This," Luna muttered under her breath, careful not to raise her voice too much, "is a terrible idea."

Ahead of her, already halfway through the open window like this was just another Tuesday, Selina glanced back. "You said that about the warehouse."

"Yeah, and I stand by it," Luna shot back, swinging one leg up and pulling herself the rest of the way onto the ledge. "Just because it worked doesn't mean it was a good plan."

Selina smirked faintly. "You're here, aren't you?"

Luna hesitated for half a second—just enough to be noticeable—before she huffed and climbed in after her.

"Yeah," she said, brushing her hands off as her shoes hit the polished floor. "Yeah, I am."

And immediately—

She froze.

Because this wasn't like anything she was used to.

The room was huge. Clean in a way that didn't even feel real, like no one actually lived here. The floors gleamed, the furniture looked untouched, everything carefully placed like it belonged in a museum instead of a house. Even the air smelled different—faintly like something expensive Luna couldn't even name.

"...Okay," she said slowly, turning in a small circle as she took it all in. "I hate it."

Selina snorted quietly. "You don't hate it."

"I do," Luna insisted, though her eyes kept flicking over everything, taking in every detail. "It's creepy. It's too clean. Where's all the... stuff? Where's the mess? The personality?"

Selina shrugged. "Keep your voice down."

"Right, right," Luna muttered, lowering it only slightly. "Wouldn't want to disturb the rich people air."

She shoved her hands into her jacket pockets, trying very hard to act like she wasn't at least a little out of her depth.

Because this wasn't the Narrows.

This was a completely different world.

And for the first time in a long time, Luna felt it.

Selina started moving further into the room, clearly expecting Luna to follow.

Which she did—after a second.

"So," Luna whispered, falling into step beside her, "just to clarify—we're breaking into Bruce Wayne's house. The guy you claim you're friends with."

Selina rolled her eyes. "We're not breaking in."

Luna gestured back toward the window. "We literally climbed through a window."

"It's open," Selina said simply.

"That doesn't make it not breaking in."

Selina didn't respond to that, just kept walking.

Luna shook her head, a small, incredulous smile tugging at her lips despite herself. "Unbelievable."

They didn't get far.

A voice cut through the quiet before they even reached the doorway.

"...Selina?"

Luna stopped.

Her entire body went still in a way that was almost instinctive, her eyes flicking toward the source of the voice before she could stop herself.

And there he was.

Standing just a few feet away, like he'd stepped out of the house itself—like he belonged here in a way Luna never could.

Bruce Wayne.

Except—

Not what she expected.

At all.

He wasn't dressed like some untouchable rich kid. No suit, no polished image. Just a simple sweater, sleeves pushed up slightly, dark hair falling a little messily over his forehead like he'd run his hands through it too many times. He looked... normal.

More than that—

He looked surprised.

Not angry.

Not annoyed.

Just... surprised.

His gaze flicked from Selina to Luna, clearly trying to process the fact that there were now two people in his room instead of one.

And Luna—

Luna blinked.

Because—

Oh.

Oh, that was—

...not what she expected.

At all.

She straightened slightly without meaning to, suddenly very aware of the fact that she was standing in someone else's house, dirt probably still clinging to her shoes, hair a mess, jacket worn and familiar in all the wrong ways.

And he was just... standing there.

Looking at her.

"...Hi," Luna said.

Selina glanced at her.

Luna didn't look away.

Bruce hesitated for a second, like he wasn't entirely sure how to respond to that.

Then, slowly, he nodded.

"...Hi."

His voice was quieter than she expected, too. Softer. Not cold, not sharp—just... calm.

Luna tilted her head slightly, studying him now in a way that was probably a little too obvious.

"...You're not what I thought you'd be like," she said.

"Luna," Selina warned lightly.

"What?" Luna shot back, not even looking at her. "I'm just saying."

Bruce's brows pulled together slightly, but there was something curious in his expression more than anything else. "What did you think I'd be like?"

Luna opened her mouth—

Paused.

Then shrugged. "Worse."

Selina let out a quiet, exasperated sigh.

But Bruce—

Bruce almost smiled.

It was small. Barely there. But it was real.

"...That's fair," he said.

Luna blinked again.

Okay.

That—

That was new.

She shifted her weight slightly, her usual confidence slipping back into place just enough to cover the brief moment of uncertainty. "So," she said, gesturing lightly around the room, "you just let people climb through your windows, or—?"

"I didn't know you were coming," Bruce replied.

"I'm offended," Luna said immediately. "Selina, you didn't tell him about me? I thought I was important."

Selina rolled her eyes. "You are not helping."

"I'm helping," Luna insisted.

Bruce glanced between them, something softer settling into his expression now, like he was starting to understand the dynamic without needing it explained.

His gaze landed back on Luna, lingering just a second longer than necessary.

And for some reason—

That made something in Luna's chest feel... weird.

Not bad.

Just—

Different.

"...You can use the door," he said after a moment.

Luna raised a brow. "Yeah, that feels less fun."

"Less illegal," he corrected.

"Debatable."

Selina stepped further into the room like she'd done this a hundred times before, completely at ease. "Ignore her."

"I'm right here," Luna said.

"I know."

Luna huffed softly, but there was no real bite to it.

Bruce's attention flicked back to her again, quieter this time, more thoughtful.

"...You're Luna," he said.

It wasn't a question.

Luna stilled slightly.

"...Yeah," she said, a little slower now. "Guess I am."

Selina had told him.

Of course she had.

And for some reason, that realization sat strangely with her.

Bruce nodded once, like he was confirming something to himself. "Selina's mentioned you."

Luna glanced at Selina quickly, something unreadable flashing across her face before she looked back at him.

"...All good things, I hope."

Bruce hesitated—

Just slightly.

Luna's grin sharpened. "Wow. That bad, huh?"

Selina scoffed. "You're insufferable."

"And yet, here I am," Luna shot back.

Bruce let out a quiet breath that might've been a laugh, his shoulders relaxing just a little.

And Luna—

Luna noticed that, too.

Not just the way he looked.

But the way he was.

He wasn't looking down on them. Wasn't treating them like they didn't belong here, even though they clearly didn't. There was no edge to him, no superiority—just a quiet kind of curiosity, like he was trying to understand instead of judge.

And that—

That was unexpected.

Luna shifted slightly, her usual grin softening just a fraction as she met his gaze again.

"...You're nicer than I thought you'd be," she admitted.

Selina glanced at her again, surprised this time.

Luna didn't take it back.

Bruce blinked, clearly not expecting that.

"...Thanks," he said, a little awkwardly.

There was a brief pause.

And in that pause, something settled—something small, something quiet, but there.

Luna crossed her arms loosely, tilting her head just slightly as she looked at him.

"...You're also... not bad to look at," she added, like it was an afterthought.

Selina made a noise of disbelief.

Bruce went very still.

And then—

Very faintly—

He turned just a little red.

Luna grinned.

Yeah.

This might actually be interesting.

Luna, unsurprisingly, did not stay quiet for long.

It lasted—maybe—ten seconds.

Then she was moving again, drifting further into the study like she had every right to be there, her boots far too loud against the polished floor despite her half-hearted attempt to step lightly. Her eyes flicked over everything, taking it all in with an almost exaggerated curiosity, like she was cataloging every expensive detail just so she could make fun of it later.

"Okay," she started, drawing the word out as she tilted her head back to look at the ceiling, "this is insane."

Selina, who had been leaning casually against the edge of a desk like she belonged here, didn't even look at her. "Luna—"

"No, no, hold on," Luna cut in, holding up a finger like she needed a moment to fully process what she was seeing. She took a few slow steps in a circle, her index finger tapping thoughtfully against her chin as she turned. "This—this is a study, right? Like, people actually sit in here and read and... think?"

Bruce, standing a few feet away, watched her with quiet interest.

"...Sometimes," he said.

Luna stopped mid-turn and looked at him. "Wild."

Selina pinched the bridge of her nose. "Can you not—"

"I'm appreciating the environment," Luna shot back, already turning again, this time slower, more deliberate, like she was putting on a show for herself. "Look at this place. It's huge. You could fit, like, ten of our house in here."

"Not helping," Selina muttered.

Luna ignored her completely.

Her gaze dragged over the shelves lined with books—actual books, not the torn, half-missing ones she occasionally found in the Narrows—and the heavy furniture that looked like it had never been moved an inch out of place.

"...Do you read all of these?" she asked suddenly, glancing at Bruce.

Bruce followed her gaze briefly before looking back at her. "Some of them."

"'Some of them,'" Luna repeated, nodding slowly like she was deeply impressed. "Yeah, okay. Casual."

Selina let out a quiet, exasperated breath, pushing herself off the desk. "I shouldn't have brought you."

Luna spun slightly on her heel to face her, grin immediate. "And miss all of this? Absolutely not."

Selina shot her a look—the kind that said she was this close to dragging her back out the window herself.

Luna just smiled wider.

And Bruce—

Bruce looked like he was trying very hard not to.

There was something about the way Luna moved through the room—like she didn't quite fit but also didn't care that she didn't—that made it hard to look away. She wasn't impressed in the way most people probably were when they saw this place. She wasn't careful with it.

She was curious.

Loudly, unapologetically curious.

And it showed in everything she did.

She wandered a little closer to one of the shelves, running her fingers lightly along the spines of the books without actually pulling any out.

"...You know," she said, almost absently, "if I lived here, I'd get lost."

Selina crossed her arms. "It's not that big."

Luna looked over her shoulder at her, eyebrows lifting. "Selina. This room alone is bigger than anywhere we've ever stayed."

Selina didn't argue with that.

Luna turned back, letting out a small hum as she continued her slow pacing, still tapping her chin like she was deep in thought—though anyone who knew her knew it was mostly for dramatic effect.

"...You've got a lot of space," she added, glancing at Bruce again. "Seems kind of lonely."

The words slipped out more casually than they probably should have.

For just a second, the room went quieter.

Bruce didn't answer right away.

Selina noticed that.

So did Luna.

But before anything could settle too heavily—

The door opened.

All three of them turned.

And Luna's eyes immediately landed on the man standing in the doorway.

Older. Composed. Dressed like he belonged in this place in a way that somehow felt even more solid than Bruce did. His posture was straight, his expression controlled—but his eyes?

His eyes flicked between Selina and Luna with clear, immediate awareness.

And then—

"Master Bruce," he said, voice calm but carrying easily through the room. "I wasn't aware we had guests."

Luna blinked.

Master Bruce?

Oh, this just got better.

His gaze shifted to Selina first, something familiar in the way he regarded her.

"Miss Kyle," he added.

Luna's head snapped toward Selina so fast it was almost impressive.

"...Miss Kyle?" she repeated, barely holding back a laugh.

Selina closed her eyes for half a second. "Don't."

"Oh, no, I'm absolutely not letting that go," Luna said immediately, turning fully toward her now, grin bright and unstoppable. "Miss Kyle? Since when are you 'Miss Kyle'?"

Selina shot her a glare. "Luna."

"What? It's fancy," Luna said, clearly delighted. "I like it. Very formal. Very—"

"Enough."

Luna held up her hands in mock surrender, though she was still smiling. "Okay, okay. I'm done."

She was not done.

Not even a little.

The man's attention shifted to her then.

And the difference was immediate.

Where his tone with Selina had been familiar—if still reserved—his gaze on Luna was sharper. More assessing. Like he was trying to figure out exactly what she was doing here... and whether that was a problem.

Luna noticed.

Of course she did.

She straightened just slightly, not in a way that made her smaller—but in a way that made her more intentional.

"...Hi," she said, tilting her head just a bit. "I'm guessing you're the butler."

There was a brief pause.

Then—

"I am," he replied. "Alfred Pennyworth."

Luna's grin came back instantly. "Knew it."

Selina sighed quietly, already looking like she was reconsidering every decision that had led to this moment.

Alfred's gaze didn't leave Luna.

"And you are?" he asked.

Luna rocked back slightly on her heels, completely unfazed. "Luna."

She didn't offer a last name.

Didn't feel the need to.

Alfred noticed that too.

"I see," he said, though it was very clear he didn't—at least, not fully.

His eyes flicked briefly to Bruce, then back to Luna, like he was silently asking a question without actually saying it.

Bruce shifted slightly, stepping forward just enough to break that line of scrutiny. "She's with Selina."

"I gathered as much," Alfred replied dryly.

Luna snorted under her breath.

Selina elbowed her lightly.

"What?" Luna whispered. "He's funny."

"I am not attempting to be," Alfred said smoothly.

That made Luna grin even wider.

"See? That's what makes it better."

Selina dragged a hand down her face. "I'm leaving."

"You are not leaving me alone here," Luna shot back immediately.

Bruce glanced between them, something amused flickering briefly across his face again.

Alfred, however, still looked... unconvinced.

Not hostile.

But definitely wary.

His attention lingered on Luna just a second longer, like he was trying to place her—figure out what kind of trouble she might bring into the house.

Luna met his gaze without backing down, one brow lifting slightly like she could feel the judgment and wasn't particularly bothered by it.

"...Relax," she said lightly. "If I was gonna steal something, I wouldn't do it while you're all watching."

Selina made a noise of disbelief.

Bruce blinked.

And Alfred—

Alfred's expression didn't change much.

But there was the faintest shift in his posture, like he wasn't entirely sure whether to be more concerned... or slightly impressed.

"...How reassuring," he said.

Luna grinned.

Yeah.

This place?

This was definitely going to be interesting.

The room had barely settled after Luna's last comment when Selina suddenly straightened, like a switch had flipped somewhere in her head.

Then—

Clap.

The sharp sound cut cleanly through the air.

"Alright," Selina said quickly, brushing her hands together like she was dusting off the entire situation. "We should probably go."

Luna froze mid-step.

Very slowly, she turned her head toward Selina.

"...I'm sorry," she said, squinting slightly. "We just got here."

Selina was already moving toward the window like the conversation was over. "And now we're leaving."

Luna let out a long, dramatic groan, dragging her hands down her face as she tilted her head back. "You cannot be serious right now."

"I am," Selina replied without even looking at her.

"No, no, this is cruel," Luna continued, following after her but making absolutely no effort to hide her complaining. "You drag me all the way out here, make me climb a mansion—which, by the way, is not easy—and then what? We stay for five minutes and leave?"

Selina stopped at the window, glancing back at her. "You've been talking the entire time."

"And I'm not done," Luna shot back immediately. "I have so many more thoughts."

Selina crossed her arms. "You've had enough thoughts."

"There is no such thing as enough thoughts," Luna argued, throwing her hands up. "That's not how thinking works."

Bruce, still standing near the center of the room, watched the exchange with quiet amusement, his gaze flicking between the two of them. There was something almost... relaxed about him now, like the chaos Luna brought into the room hadn't bothered him as much as it probably should have.

"...You don't have to leave," he said, a little hesitant but genuine.

Selina didn't even consider it. "We do."

Luna's head snapped toward him.

"...Wait," she said, pointing at Bruce like she'd just been personally validated. "See? He said we can stay."

Selina rolled her eyes. "That doesn't mean we should."

"Why not?" Luna pressed, stepping closer instead of toward the window. "We're not doing anything."

"You're doing everything," Selina shot back.

Luna gasped, clearly offended. "Wow. I cannot believe you'd say that to me in front of—" she gestured vaguely toward Bruce "—company."

Bruce looked like he was trying not to smile again.

Alfred, on the other hand, remained near the doorway, his posture as composed as ever—but his eyes flicked between Luna and Selina like he was silently siding with the idea that perhaps... yes, leaving might be best.

Selina pointed toward the window. "Out."

Luna didn't move.

Instead, she crossed her arms, mirroring Selina's earlier stance, her expression shifting into something stubbornly unimpressed. "No."

Selina blinked. "No?"

"No," Luna repeated, lifting her chin slightly. "I just got here. I haven't even explored yet. What if there's more rooms? What if there's, like, a secret passage or something?"

"There's not," Bruce said.

Luna glanced at him. "...There could be."

"There isn't."

She narrowed her eyes slightly, like she didn't fully believe him. "You don't know that."

"I live here."

"And yet," Luna said, gesturing lightly, "you seem like the type to miss things."

Selina made a quiet, disbelieving sound. "Oh my god."

Luna ignored her, turning back toward the shelves like she was about to continue her self-appointed tour. "I'm just saying, if we're already here, we might as well—"

"Luna."

There was something in Selina's tone that made her pause.

It wasn't sharp.

It wasn't angry.

Just... firm.

Luna stilled for a second, her fingers hovering near the edge of a book before she let her hand drop. She glanced back at Selina, reading her expression a little more carefully this time.

And yeah.

Selina was serious.

Still—

Luna sighed dramatically, shoulders dropping as she turned fully around. "You're no fun."

"I'm keeping us from getting caught," Selina replied.

"We're already caught," Luna pointed out, gesturing toward Bruce and Alfred. "And look—no one's freaking out."

Alfred cleared his throat lightly.

Luna glanced at him. "...Okay, one person is a little bit freaking out."

"I am not 'freaking out,'" Alfred said calmly.

"Concerned, then," Luna corrected. "Cautiously judging. Same difference."

Selina stepped closer, lowering her voice just enough that it felt more private—even if everyone could still technically hear. "We're leaving before this turns into a problem."

Luna studied her for a second.

Then her gaze flicked—briefly—to Bruce.

He was watching them again, quieter now, something thoughtful behind his expression.

And for a split second—

Luna hesitated.

Not because she suddenly cared about the risk.

But because...

She didn't really want to go.

Which was—

Annoying.

She clicked her tongue softly, looking away first. "Fine," she muttered. "But I'm complaining the whole time."

"You already are," Selina said.

"Then I'll complain more," Luna shot back, already moving toward the window—but slowly. Very slowly. Dragging it out as much as possible.

She stopped right next to it, glancing back over her shoulder one more time.

Her eyes landed on Bruce.

There was a brief pause.

"...This was fun," she said, a little more casual than she felt.

Selina raised a brow slightly at that.

Luna ignored her.

Bruce blinked, like he hadn't expected her to say that.

"...Yeah," he said after a second. "It was."

Something about the way he said it—quiet, honest—made Luna's chest do that weird thing again.

She shifted her weight, one hand already resting on the edge of the window.

"...We might come back," she added, like it was an afterthought.

Selina gave her a look. "We are not—"

"Hypothetically," Luna cut in quickly.

Bruce's lips twitched slightly. "You can use the door next time."

Luna grinned. "Where's the fun in that?"

There it was again—that almost-smile from him.

And yeah.

That definitely didn't help.

Selina stepped up beside her, clearly done with this entire interaction. "Go."

"Bossy," Luna muttered, but she didn't argue this time.

She swung one leg over the windowsill, pausing just long enough to glance back again—quick, almost like she didn't mean to.

Their eyes met.

Just for a second.

Then she was gone.

Dropping down outside with a soft thud, she straightened quickly, brushing her hands off like she hadn't just climbed in and out of a billionaire's house like it was nothing.

Selina landed beside her a moment later.

And immediately—

Luna groaned.

"Ugh," she dragged out, throwing her head back. "That was way too short. I barely even got to annoy anyone."

Selina started walking. "You annoyed everyone."

"Not enough," Luna insisted, falling into step beside her. "I had so much more material."

Selina shook her head, but there was the faintest hint of a smile there.

Luna shoved her hands into her pockets, kicking lightly at the ground as they walked away from the mansion, back toward streets that felt more familiar.

But her mind—

Her mind wasn't fully there.

Because every so often, without meaning to—

She thought about him.

About the way he looked at her. The way he didn't treat her like she didn't belong. The way he'd smiled—just barely—like he actually found her interesting instead of annoying.

Luna huffed quietly to herself, shaking her head.

"...We're definitely coming back," she muttered.

Selina glanced at her. "We are not."

Luna smirked, eyes forward.

"Yeah," she said. "We'll see."

They didn't say much at first after leaving.

Well—Selina didn't.

Luna, for once, was quieter than usual, her hands shoved into the pockets of her jacket as they made their way back toward the Narrows. The streets slowly shifted around them, the clean, quiet distance of the richer parts of Gotham fading into something more familiar—more crowded, more worn, more real.

The air felt heavier here.

Louder.

Safer, in a strange, backwards kind of way.

Luna walked half a step behind Selina for a bit, her boots scuffing lightly against the pavement as her gaze drifted—not really focusing on anything in front of her.

Because her mind wasn't on the streets.

It was still—

Back there.

In that stupidly big house.

In that stupidly clean room.

With—

She huffed softly under her breath, shaking her head a little like she could physically knock the thoughts loose.

Didn't work.

Of course it didn't.

Selina glanced back at her after a minute, clearly picking up on the unusual silence. "You're being quiet."

Luna blinked, like she'd been pulled back into her body. "Huh?"

"You're being quiet," Selina repeated, narrowing her eyes slightly. "I don't trust it."

Luna scoffed lightly, straightening up as her usual energy slipped back into place. "Wow. Okay. I'm allowed to have moments of reflection, you know."

Selina snorted. "Since when?"

"Since always," Luna shot back immediately. "You just don't notice because I'm usually also talking."

Selina rolled her eyes, but there was the faintest hint of amusement there.

They turned down a narrower street, the buildings closing in again, shadows stretching longer as the sun dipped lower. The sounds of the Narrows wrapped around them—voices, footsteps, distant arguments blending into one constant hum.

Luna kicked a loose piece of gravel, watching it bounce across the ground before she spoke again.

"...So."

Selina didn't look at her. "So."

There was a beat.

Then Luna's lips slowly curled into a smirk.

"...He's actually pretty cute."

Selina stopped walking.

Not fully—but just enough to hesitate.

Then she snorted.

Actually snorted.

Luna immediately grinned wider, glancing over at her. "What?"

Selina shook her head, a small laugh slipping out before she could stop it. "You're joking."

"I'm not," Luna said, way too easily.

Selina finally looked at her, one brow raised. "Bruce Wayne?"

Luna shrugged like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "Yeah. Bruce Wayne."

Selina stared at her for a second longer, like she was trying to decide if this was a bit.

"...He is not your type," she said flatly.

Luna let out a short laugh. "Oh, please. And you know my type so well?"

"Yes," Selina said immediately. "I do."

That only made Luna grin more.

"Oh, this should be good," she said, gesturing for her to continue. "Go ahead. Enlighten me."

Selina crossed her arms as they started walking again, clearly far too confident. "Your type is trouble."

Luna tilted her head. "That's vague."

"Gingers," Selina added without missing a beat. "With a wild smile and something definitely wrong with them."

Luna paused mid-step.

Then she burst out laughing.

"Okay—first of all," she said, holding up a finger, "that is incredibly specific."

"Am I wrong?" Selina challenged.

Luna opened her mouth—

Paused.

"...No," she admitted, still laughing. "You're not wrong."

Selina smirked slightly, clearly pleased with herself. "Exactly."

"But," Luna added, her grin turning a little sharper as she rocked back on her heels for a second, "I never said I only have one type."

Selina narrowed her eyes. "You're not serious."

"Oh, I'm very serious," Luna said, nodding like she'd just made a groundbreaking point. "My types are gingers with a wild smile... and apparently—" she gestured vaguely back in the direction they'd come from "—Bruce Wayne now."

Selina let out another disbelieving laugh. "That doesn't even make sense."

"People are complex," Luna replied smoothly. "Multifaceted. I contain multitudes."

"You're insufferable."

"And yet," Luna said, flashing her a grin, "you love me."

Selina didn't respond to that—just shook her head, though there was a softness there she didn't bother hiding.

They walked in silence for a second longer, but it wasn't the same kind as before.

This one was lighter.

Easier.

Luna glanced ahead, then back at Selina, her smirk settling into something a little more thoughtful.

"...He's not what I expected," she admitted, quieter this time.

Selina's expression shifted slightly, less teasing now. "Yeah."

Luna nudged her lightly with her shoulder. "You could've told me that."

"I did," Selina said.

"No, you said you were 'kind of maybe friends' with him," Luna corrected. "That is not the same as 'he's actually normal and not completely unbearable.'"

Selina huffed. "He's not normal."

Luna tilted her head. "Okay, fair. But he's... not what I thought."

Selina glanced at her. "What did you think?"

Luna shrugged, her gaze drifting for a second. "I don't know. Some stuck-up rich kid. Someone who'd look at us like we didn't belong there."

She paused.

Then added, quieter—

"He didn't."

Selina didn't answer right away.

Because she knew that already.

Luna let out a small breath, shaking it off like she didn't want to sit in that thought too long. Her smirk crept back, lighter now but still there.

"...Also," she added, glancing sideways at Selina, "he totally liked me."

Selina stopped again. "Oh my god."

"What?" Luna laughed. "You saw it!"

"I did not."

"You did," Luna insisted, pointing at her. "Don't lie. He was smiling."

"He was being polite."

"No," Luna said, shaking her head. "That was not just polite. That was—what's the word—intrigued."

Selina groaned, dragging a hand down her face. "You're unbelievable."

"And you brought me there," Luna shot back. "This is on you."

Selina muttered something under her breath that sounded suspiciously like a regret.

Luna just laughed, the sound bright against the rough edges of the Narrows as they kept walking.

But even as she kept talking—even as she joked and teased and filled the space the way she always did—

There was still something lingering in the back of her mind.

The way he'd looked at her.

The way he hadn't judged.

The way, for just a second, it felt like maybe—

She shook her head again, quicker this time.

"Anyway," she said, louder, cutting off her own thoughts before they could go anywhere she didn't want them to, "next time we're using the door."

Selina glanced at her. "There is no next time."

Luna grinned.

Luna Lou woke up with a low, irritated groan, the kind that started in her chest and dragged its way out like it didn't even want to be heard. Sleep hadn't been kind to her—again. It never really was, not here. The abandoned house she and Selina had claimed as theirs barely deserved to be called shelter. It leaned ever so slightly to one side like it was tired of standing, its walls stained with years of grime and water damage, its windows either shattered or boarded up with warped wood that let in thin slices of gray morning light.

The Narrows didn't do "peaceful mornings." It did noise—constant, distant shouting, sirens that never seemed to stop, the hum of a city that didn't care if you were trying to rest. Somewhere nearby, a bottle shattered. Somewhere farther off, someone laughed too loudly, too sharply. The floor beneath Luna creaked every time she shifted, and the thin excuse for a mattress beneath her—if a pile of mismatched blankets and a flattened cushion even counted—did nothing to keep the cold from seeping into her bones.

So no, even if she wanted a good night's sleep, Gotham wasn't about to give it to her.

She dragged a hand over her face, pushing tangled hair out of her eyes, only to freeze when something thumped heavily onto her stomach.

"Ow—" she wheezed, the air knocked out of her as her eyes snapped open.

Selina stood over her, already awake, already dressed, already looking like she hadn't just spent the night in a crumbling house that smelled faintly of mold and dust. Typical. There was a small, almost smug curve to her lips as she stepped back, hands tucked casually into the pockets of her jacket like she hadn't just assaulted Luna with... whatever that was.

Luna blinked up at the ceiling for a second, then groaned again, louder this time, before propping herself up on her elbows. "You know," she rasped, voice rough with sleep, "most people say 'good morning.' They don't... weaponize breakfast."

Selina shrugged, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "You weren't waking up."

"I was resting my eyes," Luna shot back immediately, even as she reached down and pulled the bag off her stomach. It crinkled in her hands, the faint smell of something sweet drifting up to her nose. That got her attention a lot faster than anything else.

She peeked inside—and paused.

Pastries.

Actual pastries.

Not the stale, half-crushed leftovers they sometimes managed to swipe. These looked... decent. Fresh, even. A little squished from the impact, sure, but still.

Luna raised a brow, glancing up at Selina. "Wow. Look at you," she said, voice still sleepy but laced with her usual sarcasm. "Moving up in the world. What, you rob a bakery or something?"

Selina's lips twitched, but she didn't answer right away. She just leaned back against the wall, arms crossing, watching Luna with that quiet, unreadable look she always had—like she knew ten things you didn't and wasn't planning on sharing any of them.

"Something like that," she said finally.

Luna snorted softly, already pulling one of the pastries out of the bag. "Yeah, okay. 'Something like that' definitely means you did something shady." She took a bite before Selina could respond, clearly not that concerned. If Selina brought food, Luna wasn't about to question it too hard.

The taste hit her a second later, and she paused mid-chew.

"...Okay, wait," she said slowly, looking down at it like it might suddenly explain itself. "This is actually good."

Selina huffed out a quiet laugh. "Shocking, I know."

"No, like—actually good," Luna insisted, sitting up a little straighter now. "This isn't Narrows-good. This is..." She gestured vaguely with the pastry. "This is rich people good."

Selina didn't say anything to that, which—honestly—was more suspicious than if she had.

Luna narrowed her eyes slightly, chewing slower now as she studied her. "Selina," she said, dragging her name out, "what did you do?"

"Relax," Selina replied easily. "You're eating it, aren't you?"

"Yeah, because I have standards, not self-control," Luna shot back without missing a beat. She took another bite anyway, because she wasn't about to waste it. "That doesn't mean I'm not concerned."

Selina just smirked faintly, pushing herself off the wall. "You worry too much."

"I worry exactly the right amount," Luna muttered, licking sugar off her thumb. "One of us has to."

There was a beat of silence, the kind that settled comfortably between them. It wasn't awkward—not even close. This was normal. Easy. Luna eating, Selina hovering nearby like a cat that refused to admit it liked the company.

Luna let herself relax a little, shoulders dropping as she leaned back against the wall, pastry still in hand. For a moment, it almost felt... calm. As calm as Gotham ever got, anyway.

Then, because she couldn't help herself, she glanced back at Selina, a crooked grin tugging at her lips.

"So," she said casually, "you gonna tell me where you actually got these, or am I gonna have to guess until I accidentally accuse you of something impressive?"

Selina rolled her eyes, but there was the faintest hint of amusement there. "You'd be wrong."

"I'm never wrong," Luna said immediately.

"Please," Selina scoffed.

Luna grinned wider, taking another bite. "Alright, fine. Then at least tell me this—should I be expecting someone to come knocking, asking why their fancy breakfast is missing?"

Selina hesitated—just for a second.

And that was all Luna needed.

Her eyes lit up, grin turning sharper. "Oh my god, you did steal it."

Selina didn't deny it.

Luna laughed, the sound echoing lightly in the otherwise empty house. "You're unbelievable," she said, shaking her head. "And here I thought you were getting soft."

"Not a chance," Selina replied, pushing off the wall completely now and heading toward the doorway.

Luna watched her go, still smiling, still holding the pastry like it was the best thing she'd had in days.

Yeah. The place was falling apart. Yeah, the city was a mess. And yeah, sleep sucked.

But as long as it was the two of them?

Luna figured she could deal with just about anything Gotham threw their way.

They didn't stay in the house long after that.

It wasn't really the kind of place you lingered in—too cold, too quiet in the wrong ways, like the walls were always listening. Besides, Gotham didn't wait around for anyone, and neither did they.

By the time they stepped outside, the Narrows was already awake.

The streets were damp, like they always were, the pavement stained dark from something that probably wasn't just rain. People moved fast, heads down, shoulders hunched, everyone minding their own business in that very deliberate way that actually meant they were paying attention to everything. The air smelled like too many things at once—smoke, garbage, something fried from a stand down the block—and the noise never really stopped. Cars honked somewhere in the distance, voices overlapped, a radio crackled faintly from an open window above them.

Luna stretched her arms over her head as they walked, rolling her shoulders like she was trying to shake off the last bits of sleep. "God," she muttered, tilting her head back for a second. "I think that might've been the worst night yet."

Selina didn't look at her, hands tucked into the pockets of her worn leather jacket, gaze forward like always. "You say that every time."

"Because every time it gets worse," Luna shot back immediately, dropping her arms and falling into step beside her. "I swear that floor was trying to kill me. One wrong move and it's like—bam—Luna-shaped hole straight to whatever's under that place."

Selina huffed quietly, almost a laugh, but she didn't comment.

Luna kept going anyway—because of course she did.

"And don't even get me started on the noise," she added, gesturing wildly as they walked. "Like, who is yelling at that hour? Go to sleep. Be miserable in silence like a normal person."

A man passed them going the opposite direction, shooting Luna a quick look before looking away just as fast. She didn't notice—or if she did, she didn't care.

Selina, on the other hand, noticed everything. Her eyes flicked briefly toward the man, then back ahead, her posture loose but ready, like she could bolt or fight at any second if she needed to.

Luna nudged her lightly with her elbow. "You're doing the thing again."

Selina frowned slightly. "What thing?"

"The quiet, brooding, mysterious thing," Luna said, waving a hand in her direction. "It's very dramatic. Very 'I have secrets and I'm not going to tell you any of them.'"

Selina rolled her eyes. "I'm just walking."

"Uh-huh," Luna hummed, unconvinced. "And I'm just talking. Doesn't mean there's not a vibe."

"There's no vibe."

"There is absolutely a vibe."

Selina didn't respond to that, which Luna clearly took as a win.

She grinned, rocking back on her heels for half a step before catching up again. "You know, one day I'm gonna figure you out."

"Doubt it," Selina said simply.

"Oh, come on," Luna laughed. "Everyone has a thing. You've gotta have, like, a weakness or something."

Selina glanced at her then, one brow lifting slightly. "You're annoying."

Luna gasped, placing a hand over her chest in mock offense. "Wow. That hurts. Truly. I don't know how I'll recover."

"You won't," Selina replied flatly, but there was the faintest hint of amusement tugging at the corner of her mouth.

They turned down a narrower street, one Luna recognized instantly. It was one of the routes they took often—fewer people, easier to move through without getting shoved around or caught in something they didn't want to be part of. The buildings leaned in closer here, casting longer shadows, the light struggling to reach the ground.

Luna kicked a loose pebble as they walked, sending it skittering across the pavement. "So," she said, dragging the word out slightly, "what's the plan today?"

Selina shrugged, gaze flicking briefly to a storefront they passed. "Same as always."

Luna snorted. "Ah, yes. The classic 'we'll figure it out as we go' strategy. Works every time."

"It's worked so far."

"Debatable," Luna said, gesturing vaguely around them. "We are still, you know—here."

Selina glanced at her again. "You complaining?"

Luna paused for a second, then tilted her head, considering it.

"...No," she admitted after a moment, a small grin creeping back onto her face. "Not really."

And she meant it.

Because yeah, Gotham sucked. The Narrows sucked even more. Everything was unpredictable and messy and dangerous, and most days felt like they were just one bad decision away from everything going wrong.

But she wasn't alone in it.

She bumped her shoulder lightly against Selina's as they walked, casual, like it didn't mean anything. "Could be worse," she added.

Selina didn't move away.

"Yeah," she said quietly. "It could."

They walked like that for a bit, side by side, Luna talking whenever a thought popped into her head—which was often—and Selina listening in that quiet way she had, responding just enough to keep the conversation going but never more than she needed to.

Luna pointed out random things as they passed them—a guy arguing with a vendor, a stray cat darting between alleys, a flickering sign that looked like it was about to give up completely.

"Okay, but that sign has been dying for, like, a week," she said, glancing up at it. "Just let it go. Put it out of its misery."

Selina followed her gaze briefly. "It's fine."

"It is not fine," Luna insisted. "It's one strong breeze away from falling on someone's head."

"Then don't stand under it."

Luna grinned. "See? Problem solved."

Selina shook her head slightly, but there was that almost-smile again.

They kept moving, weaving through the streets like they belonged there—because, in a way, they did. This was their territory, their routine, their life.

Luna kept talking, her voice carrying easily over the noise of the city, bright and unbothered in a place that tried so hard to drag people down.

Selina walked beside her, hands still in her pockets, quiet but present, her attention sharper than she let on.

And even with everything around them—the noise, the chaos, the constant edge of danger—there was something steady about it.

Something familiar.

Like no matter what Gotham threw at them next, they'd face it the same way they always did.

Together.

Money never lasted long in Gotham.

It slipped through your fingers faster than you could count it—food, places to crash when things got too risky, bribes when you needed someone to look the other way. Luna and Selina had learned that early on. You didn't wait until you were desperate. You moved before that.

Which is how they ended up crouched across the street from a warehouse that definitely didn't belong to anyone who played fair.

Luna leaned forward slightly, elbows on her knees, squinting at the building like that would somehow reveal all its secrets. "Okay," she muttered, "so just to be clear—we're robbing a mob warehouse."

Beside her, Selina didn't even blink. "We're borrowing."

Luna snorted under her breath. "Right. Borrowing. From the mob. I'm sure they'll be super understanding when they notice."

Selina shot her a look. "You in or not?"

Luna tilted her head, pretending to think about it for a second longer than necessary before a grin spread across her face. "Oh, I'm in. Obviously. Terrible idea, high risk, probably illegal in, like, multiple ways—my favorite kind."

Selina rolled her eyes, but there was no real annoyance behind it. She turned her attention back to the warehouse, already mapping things out in her head.

It wasn't subtle. Nothing in the Narrows ever really was. The building was big, worn down on the outside but clearly guarded—guys posted near the doors, another pacing lazily along the side. Lights glowed faintly from inside, shadows moving past the dirty windows.

Luna followed Selina's gaze, her grin fading just a little as she took it in. "You know," she said slowly, "we could always pickpocket someone. Less chance of getting, you know... shot."

Selina smirked faintly. "Where's the fun in that?"

Luna huffed a laugh. "You're unbelievable."

"Come on."

And just like that, they moved.

Getting in wasn't the hard part. It never really was with Selina. She moved like she belonged anywhere she stepped, slipping through gaps and shadows like it was second nature. Luna followed, quieter than she usually was, her usual commentary reduced to the occasional whisper as they made their way around the side and through a door that definitely should've been locked—but wasn't, thanks to Selina.

Inside, the air was thicker. It smelled sharp, chemical, mixed with dust and something metallic that Luna didn't want to think too hard about. Crates were stacked along the walls, some marked, some not, and there were voices echoing faintly from deeper inside.

Luna wrinkled her nose. "Yeah, this place is not passing any kind of inspection," she murmured.

Selina ignored that, already moving toward a stack of crates near the back. "Help me," she whispered.

Luna stepped forward, glancing around as she did. "You ever think about how this is probably a really bad idea?"

"Every time," Selina replied.

"Cool. Just checking."

They worked quickly, opening crates just enough to peek inside. Most of it wasn't useful to them—stuff they couldn't sell easily or didn't want to mess with. But then Selina found one that made her pause.

Cash.

Not a ridiculous amount, but enough.

Luna's eyes lit up. "Oh, now that," she whispered, "is what I'm talking about."

Selina shot her a look. "Keep your voice down."

"I am keeping my voice down," Luna insisted, even though she definitely wasn't whispering as much as she thought she was.

They grabbed what they could—quick, efficient—and for a second, it actually felt like it might work. Like they might get in and out without a problem.

Which, in hindsight, should've been their first warning.

"Hey."

The voice cut through the air behind them, sharp and suspicious.

Luna froze.

Slowly—very slowly—she turned her head.

One of the guys stood a few feet away, arms crossed, eyes narrowed. Definitely not someone you wanted catching you in the middle of stealing from his boss.

There was a beat of silence.

Selina tensed beside her, ready to move.

And then Luna did what Luna did best.

She smiled.

"Oh—hey!" she said, like this was a completely normal situation and they hadn't just been caught red-handed. "Wow, okay, this is actually perfect, because we were just—"

"What are you doing?" the guy cut in, clearly not in the mood.

"Great question," Luna said immediately, nodding like he'd said something incredibly insightful. "Love that you asked that. Communication is important, you know? A lot of people just jump to conclusions, and that's how misunderstandings happen, and we really don't want that—"

"Kid—"

"—because, like, from your perspective, I totally get it," she continued, talking right over him. "You walk in, you see us here, and you're thinking, 'Wow, these two are definitely stealing.' But—plot twist—we're actually not—well, okay, we kind of are, but it's more of a temporary relocation of funds—"

The guy stared at her, his expression shifting from annoyed to confused to... deeply, deeply tired.

Selina glanced at Luna, then back at the guy, clearly trying to figure out if this was actually working.

"Stop talking," he said flatly.

"See, I would," Luna replied, "but I feel like if I stop talking, that's when things get violent, and we don't want that. You don't want that. I definitely don't want that—"

"Can you shut up for one second?" he snapped.

Luna paused.

For exactly one second.

Then—"Okay, but just really quick—"

Selina pressed her lips together, very clearly holding back a laugh.

The guy dragged a hand down his face. "Oh my—"

"Look, we can all agree this is a stressful situation," Luna went on, gesturing lightly. "Tensions are high, emotions are running wild, and honestly? I think what we need here is to just take a step back and—"

"Get out."

Luna blinked. "Wait, what?"

"Get. Out," he repeated, pointing toward the door. "Just—leave. Right now."

There was another beat of silence.

Luna glanced at Selina.

Selina raised a brow slightly.

And then, very slowly, Luna grinned.

"...Wow," she said. "That worked way better than I thought it would."

Selina snorted under her breath, already moving toward the exit. "Come on."

Luna didn't need to be told twice. She quickly followed, clutching the cash, still talking as they went.

"Okay, but seriously, that guy was this close to losing it," she said, holding her fingers barely apart. "I think I actually saw his soul leave his body for a second—"

"Luna."

"—like, he was rethinking every life choice that led him to that moment—"

"Luna."

"Yeah?"

Selina smirked slightly as they slipped back out into the street. "Run."

Luna didn't argue.

They took off, laughter spilling out between them as they disappeared back into the chaos of the Narrows—another bad decision, another close call, another win.

And honestly?

WARNING.

This fanfiction will contain mature content Such as torture, kidnapping, forced kisses unconsensual experimenting,  cussing, brutal murders, stockholm syndrome,  power dynamics, unhealthy relationships brainwashing,  physical abuse, attempt SA

From the moment Luna Lou drew her first breath under the flickering signs of the Narrows, Luna learned that Gotham doesn't give second chances—it takes what it wants and leaves the rest to rot. Quick-fingered, sharp-tongued, and impossible to pin down, she became a legend among the street kids: the girl who could lift a cop's badge while he was still frisking her, talk her way out of a gang hit with nothing but sarcasm and a wicked grin, and vanish into the alleyways like smoke when the sirens screamed closer. She didn't just survive the city's endless night.

 She danced in it. 

She bit back.

Her only anchor in a world of shifting alliances and sudden betrayals was Selina Kyle—Catwoman in the making, the silent shadow to Luna's wildfire spark. Together they were unstoppable: two feral queens of the rooftops, claws and laughter cutting through the cruelty of Gotham. Selina moved like liquid night, calculating every escape. Luna charged forward with reckless charm and a defiant laugh that dared the darkness to try her. They shared stolen food, hidden squats, and the kind of sisterhood forged in blood and concrete. For years, it was enough. Just the two of them against a city that devoured the weak and rewarded the monstrous.

Until the night Selina returned to their latest hideout with something dangerously close to softness in her voice.

Bruce Wayne.

The name alone was ridiculous. Gotham's golden orphan, heir to a crumbling empire built on the very corruption that kept girls like them scraping by in the gutters. Luna laughed until she cried—until she realized Selina wasn't joking. Curiosity, that old and treacherous friend, sank its claws deep. What game was the rich boy playing? What secrets hid behind those haunted eyes? Meeting him was supposed to be a lark, a story to mock later over cheap cigarettes on a fire escape. It wasn't.

Bruce was quiet kindness wrapped in old grief, awkward charm beneath the weight of expectation, and far more dangerous than any mark she'd ever conned. The more Luna let herself linger in his world of sprawling manors and hidden truths, the more the lines blurred between street thief and something almost like hope. For the first time, Gotham's night felt a little less suffocating.

Then came Jerome Valeska.

The laughing psychopath with chaos in his veins and obsession burning in his mismatched gaze. From the moment their paths crossed in the city's growing madness—back at that stupid circus when she'd thought he was a poor boy who lost his mother—Jerome decided Luna belonged to him. Her fire, her defiance, her unbreakable spirit... they were meant for his madness. She told him no. She called him crazy. She fought back with every weapon she had: her wits, her fists, her loyalty to Selina and the unexpected pull toward Bruce.

But in Gotham, "no" is never the end of the conversation.

It's only the beginning of the nightmare.

As the city spirals deeper into darkness—corrupt cops, emerging freaks, and the thin line between hero and villain blurring beyond recognition—Luna Lou finds herself torn between two worlds. The golden shadow of Bruce, offering a fragile chance at something real, and the blood-soaked laughter of Jerome, who will burn everything down to possess her. Loyalty to Selina. Survival on the streets she once ruled. And a choice that could save her... or destroy them all.

In a city where everyone wears a mask, Luna Lou is running out of places to hide.

And Gotham never lets anyone go easily. And some obsessions laugh all the way to the end.

LUNA LOU 

SELINA KYLE 

BRUCE WAYNE

JEROME VALESKA