#tdc

Gotham is a shitty city, everyone knows that. it would be a joke not to know about its reputation with villains and crazy people, only the worst of what's humanly possible attract to Gotham. you don't know why people have their reason for staying in this dump of a city but if you had to pick one for yourself, it would be the sky.

Is it how the outsiders and tourist describe it? cold, dark and cloudy? yes, but along with it come a beauty that only shines on the dimmest of nights.

When the moon rises and her moonlights illuminates the clouds and road below, shedding light to the darkness of Gotham streets, crime happens.

she made the dark shadows darker.

That's what you loved about Gotham night, it was always a balance of darkness and light. The light made it easier to see while dark helped you hunt....

that's how you ended up speeding down the lanes and allies, heel to heel with your pray as cool air rushed past you.

you've been running for a hot minute now, following this person who apparently had amazing stamina.

how the heck can they run that fast with that type of luggage??

lose bills of.. well... bill fly past you but you don't care. your quads hurt and vision blurs, keeping focus on what's important. trying to get this over with.

You inch closer and closer, stretching your hand out to where your finger graze the bottom of the dangling brown leather bag."

so close!

just one more jump, inches away.

one more....

no weapons, gadgets or tricks, just pure skill she said.

fuck her and her rules. you cursed.

this would have been over with before it even started.

your eyes narrow as you get ready to leap and just as you do the guy turns around and throws the bag point blank at your face, turning a sharp corner in an ally

safe to say you stumble backward bambozzeled.

" this fuckass bitch" you quickly stand to chase again when you find he's long gone.

you heave in exhaustion and hold the strap of the bag near you, calling in from your coms to Catwoman, barely being able to breath you wheeze out " mom-i-i lost him." you sigh out

you wait a sec before calling back in.

" Mom! cat women."

Static rustle and a voice came out form the other end of your coms.

" I heard you the first-time kid, get over here" she sounded so done yet intrigued. she seems in a mood.

She didn't go into detail, but you knew what she meant.

roofs.

she's always said that the roofs are always better then down below with rats. you disagreed. Being with the rats was better than hanging with creatures that stayed close to the sky.

Your earpiece started again as you started moving.

" And bring the bag. I hope you know where it is." and out she left.

" Yep, I know very well."

You sighed and followed as entrusted.

you tossed the heavy bag up to a balcony before jumping and repeating till you were on the roofs, from there you spotted her a few apartments away and quickly made your way there.

a few seconds later, the bag stuff plopped down with a thud, followed by you and your aching legs.

"i really need to exercise more."

she's the first to speak.

" well, that was an utter failure, nice going kid. outran by a common crook." she leans nonchalantly making her whip which is now wrapped around their leg as they upside down, passed out.

serves them right.

“I had it, but he slipped right out my claws and turned sharp before I could catch em.”

her high black heels press against the short, disappointing bag before stepping on it land leaving small shoe shaped imprint like it owed her everything's it's got

She takes a second and sighs.

"This was the last practice run before I debut you as Catwoman's official apprentice, let’s hope you do a lot better on test then review.”

“Well, il have you know I was an amazing student in school.” You smirk, catching the duffle bag of money she throws at you.

" Come on kitty, let's go".

you staggered around joyfully, “ wait does that I mean I get to wear a tight latex suit?!! To like match?”

“ ha-! Over my dead body young lady, way too young.”

“ mom don’t be a hypocrite, you probably started around my age!”

Home was always a hard thing to put a meaning to. it was never about a bed or a warm place because you always had that which to you were grateful for.

over the you've come to put a meaning behind it, through death and back, it was always a feeling.

the warmness that could never be clutched by a blanket or heater but by love: Seline Kyle was the one who opened the door to you when you needed her the most.

today was no different... well sort of.

in typical Gotham city weather, rain hammered on the city itself was trying to drown.

below the skyline, you swung between building with reckless grace, boots grazing over neon sign as the rain drowned out the echoing laughter.

A domino mask and a cat hood hid half your face but not your amazed grin.

"Let go higher!" you called, swinging up slightly higher.

behind you and your flapping cat tail, followed cat women- older, sharper, wrapped in leather and confidence, vaulting with feline ease.

“You miss one landing,” Catwoman warned, “and I’m leaving you in traction.”

“But you won’t,” you shot back.

you didn't have to look back; you could practically hear her smirk and an eyebrow raise, despite herself. “Getting cocky now? what happened to the shy, meek girl I knew?” she coed mockingly.

“well, what can I say," you took a large leap, your detachable tail used as a grappleling-hook propelled you.” I have an amazing teacher."

You landed on a gargoyle overlooking a jewelry gala downtown, cat women landed not a moment after.

it was a large event. of course it was, after all it was hosted by Gotham's own billionaire, who wouldn't show up.

right. who wouldn't show up. After all, you two were here and in the dark were probably hidden other villains which is why this needed to be quick.

down below the Floodlights swept the streets below. Wealthy socialites glittered through glass windows like fish in an aquarium. an all too familiar and disgusting sight.

Perfect hunting ground.

all that jewelry just on display! You image everything you could buy with that.

Catwoman crouched beside you, smelled like cats and the smell of moonlight. “Remember the plan. In and out. No improvising.”

“That was one time!” you barked

“You stole a motorcycle during a robbery.”

“It was cool.”

“It was loud.”

You had to admit it was loud but it was a sweet ride though; a black slick motorcycle of the newest model just left in the middle of the road, no chain and full gas.

Its not just everyday you find something so good in the crime ridden streets.

It was practically begging to be robbed, plus you faced no real danger of being caught since Gotham's own dark knight was gone; presumably dead, leaving only the Robins to fill the gap and with the record, they haven't caught Catwoman, let alone you.

You grinned wider, this would be your first robbery and hopefully one without batman.

Dispute your indifference to him, deeply something tugged at your heart. Parts that you thought you had left behind at the convince store, where you died. God. Maybe you could never escape the grip Bruce or batman have on you. Jeez now you understand how Jason feels, can't escape even after death, that's what you and the muscle maniac have in common, only difference is he came back, you aren't.

From what you've heard, the same building covered in your blood was demolished and in place was a bookstore in your honor but surely was hiding a mistake and failure.

Your gaze turned to catwomen, the only person other then Tim who had soemahat cared aabout ypu.

She's spacing off again.

For a moment, Selina forgot the city beneath us. Forgot the gangs. Forgot Batman. Forgot the secret she’d carried for two years.

Because you— stubborn, fearless, sarcastic — felt alive in a way Gotham rarely allowed- in an iconic way of course.

Two years ago, the city believed Bruce Wayne’s daughter had died in a robbery a few blocks away from Wayne manor. Closed casket. Public mourning. Endless headlines.

Selina had believed it too.

Until she found you, half-conscious in her apartment. you already looked halfway dead, half of what you were supposed to be. Memory fractured, no idea on the events post the robbery and clearly you didn't place yourself there.

By the time Selina figured out who you really were; the girl she had meet at a younger age, the one no one seemed to care about- she had grown attached.

So Selina made a choice.

She never told Bruce nor was she planning on. (which for that you were grateful for).

At first, it was protection she told you

Then it became fear. you could see in her eyes and how she never let you past a certain time during the nights. figured at some point or another she believed batman would find out and his reaction would be a mystarty.

Angry? maybe even scared? perhaps guilty. with your family, everything is uncertain and Catwoman liked predictability.

And now?

Now she didn’t know how to explain why his daughter had become this — a rooftop-running thief with lockpicks in your boots and a police scanner in your backpack.

you adjusted your gloves while looking down as the now accumulating crowd. “You’re staring again.”

“Thinking.” she replied quickly. too quickly.

“Dangerous hobby mother.” you teased

she scoffed like you offended her bloodline. " don't call me "mother", it makes me feel old." Selina flicked your forehead as you winced in pain. “You ready, kitty?"

" do I need to be 'kitty'? I mean I get why but can't I get a cooler name like viper? Or-uhh- shadow might!," you think to yourself, scratching your chin cartoonishly. "I've always wanted to be shadowmight."

"no can do, the nickname come with the job plus its sounds adorable." She chuckled.

What the hell is an adorable nickname going to do for you! Whatever, you'll just change it.

she rises up from crouching and unzips your small bag quickly, rummaging through it before finding a small heavy looking box, a small metal spike protruding from it. she staches it above her waist.

both of you looked down at the gala. first mission ever and it was going to be succusses.

“Always.”

A sudden boom rolled across the skyline and followed alarms from down below at the gala. people ran screaming, some into their fancy cars while other just ran.

shit. someone got to it before you.

both froze.

A dark shape stood atop a distant tower cape-first against the storm.

Batman.

Watching.

your stomach twisted unexpectedly. shit. this was really bad.

he saw us. he saw me. Did he recognize me, behind the mask and hood?

his whole face scrunched up, annoyed before Batman fired his grapnel gun and launched toward your direction. you couldn't move. your body didn't allow you, all you could do was stare up in awe or fear. you couldn't tell.

against the reflection of the moonlight and the shadow he casted down, he looked slightly slimmer, maybe lost a few pounds or maybe his age was catching up to him. he looked off: didn't fit the frame of batman, Gotham's dark knight...your father. though then again-you hadn't seen him in 2, almost 3 years, a lot could have changed.

a lot has changed.

you knocked yourself out your trance. It wasn't the time to think about the but the moment.

“Oh, come on,” you groaned. “Does he live up here?!” you knew it wasn't true but it was still funny imagining batman, Bruce Wayne sleeping like a bat just waiting for crime. Honestly it wouldn’t come to a surprise if he has at some point.

Selina’s expression sharpened instantly from what you could see. she was panicking, probably not expecting our mother-daughter date to get ruin so quickly.

“Change of plans.” she quickly had grabbed your wrist and pulled you into a sprint, stumbling adjusting to match her incredibly sprint.

“wait wait?! You said no improvising.” you question. Your eyes wonder back to see the flying man in a bat costume that had become your doom.

“I’m allowed. You’re not.” she hissed through her teeth, dragging you into a turn sharper than you expected.

You leap from one gargoyle to another just as Batman landed where you stood seconds earlier, you could practically hear stone crack under his boots.

Shit.

“Catwoman,” Batman growled.

You guys come to a stop. Not by your decision but selinas. If it were up to you, you would have kept running-keots going to avoid those blankbeyss that dragged along side your every movemnt.

She pushed you down to the height of your legs as if to poorly hide you, a hand behind her back-pressed on your head low. It felt weirdly cartoonish like a giant behind a small tree.

Selina saluted from a fire escape across the alley. “Still obsessed with me. It’s unhealthy.”

Batman ignores her comment, his gaze occupied else where.

To you.

Crouched down beside her.

Batman narrowed his eyes. “Who is she?”

“Intern,” Selina replied coldly.

“I can hear you.” You muttered- quickly slapping both hands over your mouth.

Right. Your voice. You hadn’t even thought about it, using your regular voice- the one he might recognize. You cleared your throat, putting on a slight deeper smoother voice.

One of Batman’s oldest tricks.

Batman stepped forward slowly, studying your movements, posture, even the angle you held herself.

You didn’t like this look. The look he gives everyone when he’s studying them-what they are thinking- their weakness- their flaws. Its the same on that had plague you for years. The ones that told you you weren’t good enough.

Bat family or Wayne’s.

For a brief second everything stood still. No one moved or seemed like they wanted to- waiting for another to make that move.

You in the other hand- had your hand behind your back, reaching for a smoke bomb you had conjured up weeks before. A perfect replica of Batman’s. all those late nights studies and observing- hadn’t gone to waste- just directed to something more different.

A nibble was heard. Your eyes snapped open as His voice faltered.

“…Have we met?”

You blinked, whispering a small “what?”

Before you could answer or processes what he had said, Selina grabbed your wrist and pulled.

No again.

“Okay. Time to go.”

Smoke bombs burst across the rooftop. You had dropped them! Or had Selina thrown them?

It didn’t matter anyways as the outcome was the same: Batman lunging through the gray cloud, but by the time it cleared, you guys were already swinging into the storm-dark skyline of Gotham.

"Are you sure you want to do this; I mean what if they find you-take you away from me? You wouldn't leave your poor mother alone wou-'

"mom!," you sigh out, grabbing your black purse with a hanging charm from the carpeted floor of the apartment; a high-class apartment located in an unnamed skyscraper filled with cat motifs and mid-way between a modern and whimsical vibe mixing.

"it's only an outing, il be back before you know it." you reassured.

Selina who had been dramatically with a half empty glass of wine in hand, laying sprawled out on the prestige leather couch petting sir. Otto, A black cat who had now cuddled up to Selina, follow alongside her dramatic pose.

Bunch of dramatic. Instead of this they should join theater, they'd be suited better there than here.

She lazely sits up, too tired to move any quicker though you can't blame her. The night from before was a bummer and you both had prepared sleepless nights, planning out the layouts and right timing.

now today-come afternoon, had just turned into a break, keeping a low profile from the watchful eyes of batman; who at this point wouldn't be a surprise of he was looking into you two.

"where are you even going little kitty?" She questioned. " your supposed to be relaxing today!!" Her hand flop against the leather couch with a rubber clench.

You grabbed a brown fisherman's hat and adjuster it on your wig.

"I'm going to visit the library." you dusted off your outfit from cat hair and clarified Selina's confused look. "the one put in my honor. Its just a few blocks away."

She gives a concerned look but shakes it off. Its your decision to make. She knows that, she's probably worried; you've never wanted to go to the place where you died but she respected it. Or she was too drunk to stop you, either way you opened the door and walked out.

"love you kid. Stay safe and be back by midnight or else ill send the cat after you!" She joked, her voice muffled by the closing wooden door.

"love you too....mom." You murmured under your breath.

Even with the amount of time you gave lived with Selina and called her mom, it was still was something that that warmed you whenever you spoke those words. Words you haven't spoken in a very long time.

you shake your head, pushing all those thoughts to the back of your mind.

This isn't time for sappy feeling.

No!

Your were on a mission. Your own mission, one which Selina didn't know about.

To get her a birthday present.....and maybe actual take a sneak peek at that library.

It was dangerous-yes- but you were only going to be in and out, very quickly. You were careful enough. Right?

Of course you could never be careful enough, especially in Gotham of all places.

If you were being honest- hanging out on roofs and highrise apartments had almost made you forget how bad Gotham actually was.

Almost. That's the key word.

Luckily in the mall you were currently in was more in the richer area of Gotham, otherwise the jewelry store wouldn't be so open and inviting. Lucky for them(and you)- you were here for Selina- not them.

Its funny to think that trhought yourlife- stealing- out of all things would be your job. Not the job a typical person has but even with the path of a vigalante laid out for you-even that you couldn't do and instead turned to what a vigelantue to supposed to hate.

Your younger self would be ak disappoint but she's dead and your alive.

Behind you would hear derogatory whistling from behind which you ignore. There's no time for that.

As you open the polish glass door of the jewelry store- the bell from up top rings, announcing your prensses like a microphone.

The worker; a tall women with a sleeck black uniforma and hair up in a tigh neat bun-looks up from her device and nods with a small smile and greeting before letting you get to business.

You nod back but till your head-aware the sunglasses hid your eyes and the hood your face but growing around rich people-its normal, no celebrity willing goes out of their way to scream their name for privacy.

To them-you were just one of them.

For a while you looked around, passing and inspecting everything from the gold played engagement rings that would never be of use to the shiny and priceless jade bracelets. Dispite all the shine and upscale of the jewelry- everything was something in a normal robbery Selina would probably ignore, nothing screamed her.

You walked around, keeping your steps quiet and soft.

Not many people in the store, atleast less you imaged- a young blond lady who looked like she came from money and an old man who could barely walk.

Not the type of common crooks around these parts.

You decided to check out the glass box at the regrister and there it was.

The item you were looking for.

A beautiful cat pendent, with green gems for eyes and a slick gold outline that dangled off a dainty yet sturdy gold chain.

That was perfect!

You were sure she would like it, along with the hand writen tucked in your purse.( too risky to leave it at home).

You called over the worker with a hand wave and eye contact and she rushed over.

“Hello! Could I see some Id?” She asked with the typical costumer service voice.

Dug into your bag, you took out “your” id and slid it on the glass surface.

She looks at you and puts on a fake smile.

“ welcome miss. Taylor, how may I help you”

“ I would like that one over there” you pointed down with your gloved finger down to the cat necklace that sparkled.

She carefully knelt down and set on it. : price that of 2600 dollar. Not bad.

“ this one?” She questioned.

“ yes pls ring me up.” By now a costumer had set up behind you waiting to pay.

“ that will be 13 thousand, card?” Your hand stop the fussing in your bad, fingers squeezing around about the 3 thousand you had brought.

“ what?” Y

“ it will be 13 thousand for the pendent.” She said so normally like she hadn’t just tried to scam you.

“ but on the pendent it say only around 3 thousand! Are you blind or something!?” You argued.

This was ridiculous! What an up charge?!

“ I’m sorry miss taylor but due to the new found rarely of the piece and the demand of price of the paper is outdated as of yesterday.”

“ bullshit!” The glass rattled, cracking a bit as your palm slammed down.

“ hey hey ladies come on don’t fight.” The guys behind you said.

The argument had gotten farther then before and before your knew it He caught your hand before it could slam back down on the fragile table.

You didn’t look back.

“ why don’t I pay?” The stranger said.

“ no need to-“ you were interrupted.

“Perfect!” The cashier responded before you could, sliding out a card scanner and leaning it towards the guy.

Your mind rattled with fury but atleast you got the necklace.

You shoved the case the pendent came in into your bag and turned to head out, bumping head first into the stranger muscle.

“ what no thank you?” He teased.

You looked up muttering an thank you.

“ thanks, I didn’t as-“

You pause.

Both of you do.

No longer did you hear the teasing from him voice but now only came a soft-“ no way.” From the all to familiar golden boy. Boy wonder.

His sharp cheek clench’s for a second and his stupid doe eyes caved in confusion.

“Bye!” Your feet ran faster and you could think. He was already shouting out your name and running to the entrance- barely missing your bag but being stopped by the automatic locks.

Gothams air is unhealthily but in the fleeting moment it was the only thing fueling your lungs and desire to escape.

By the time you had slowed down you were already infront of the library- the store built in your honor.

It felt much more intimidating looking at in person. Crazy to think this is where you died, now it’s filled with books that have naked ladies and smut all around- not that your are complaining.

It’s always appreciated.

Inside was a lot different than you expected to feel. It was warm, and welcoming- unlike regular libraries that only have a study feel. Here you actually think having fun would be a crime.

The people around laugh and giggle with friend while checking out books they would like.

All of the books hanging up- atleast the majority of them were books from your old room, books you’ve read and lived enough to keep hanging up in your small cramped walls.

You spin around in surprise while slowly walking walkers to see its full beauty.

Effort actually seemed to be put into this- your death place.

Maybe you would come back here again to check out some old comic books.

“oof” the air out of your lungs escaped- your stumble toward before being caught by a leaning hand.

Your hat fell.

Your eyes meet your saving grace and quickly fell in horrors

Timmy.

You slapped away his hand and punched him in his shock, making a run for the streets.

What the fuck was today.

This can’t be.

This can’t be real.

Why out of all of them Tim?!

Shit shit shit shit shit shit.

Past the street you weaved past people never stopping and right behind you heard him like a fly on the wall.

"HEY WAIT. BUG WAIT PLEASE! PLEASE!”

But you didn't, you ran, faster than your legs could carry your. Your feet practically levitated from the ground.

In the process you throw the books from your gloved hands.( the ones you planned on leaving). One of them managed to hit him giving you an extra few seconds.

Your burst out onto gothams busy streets and tried to blend in-tim who had followed you was squezzing throughbthebgroundz just a few inches away from you, hand extened as if grabbing as the last thread of hope.

"hey!" The crowd muffled him out. "pl- wait hold o"

A quickly turn in a tight alley had you jumping onto an open balcony and doing the quickest outfit and identifying change of your whole life. 10 seconds.

You look knaw on your fake cigar and pretend to look on your phone, leaning into the darkest part of the alley, bag hidden up on the balcony from earlier.

His black, semi long hair swish past you and only, if only for a second when time slowed down on his face- was face carved of worry.

Genuine worry.

His eyes though he never showed where watery.

One single tear release, flying like rain from him.

And that moment you knew that was your brother, the only one who had talked to the real you, when you cried, whenou you laugh, when you needed help with homework or just company.

He stopped for a few good seconds looking at the opposite end of the alley where only more alleys lay and he turns around.

For a good second you hold your breath.

He was your brother dispite everything. Your only brother.

By the time your tears had fallen, you were already gone and your stupid hat tilted down do that Noone else could see your tears of shame.

You ran as you’ve done all day, going through too many path ways back home incase of a robin was tagging your tail.

Two bats you’ve seen today.

Two.

That’s three to many, never again.

You got your present and hell as sure you weren’t going back to town for 20 years.

Your head throbs. Maybe you’ll take a drink or too to calm your aching body and mind.

@ryuushou @bunniotomia @mys0cksrwet

Authors note: I’m so sorry it has taken me this time to put out a story. School is finally ending and finals are so behind me. I will work on the Tim story, I just though to finish this one since I was already close too