"Uh-uh," she said, getting up, "you are not going to change the subject." She walked towards him, placed her arms around his waist, and asked, "Where were we?"
He wrapped his arms around her and leaned his head down to kiss her.
Soft...moist...warm. He'd kissed her before, but now it felt...different. His hands slid from her back around her waist, then moved slowly up her arms, over her shoulders, passed her neck , and softly onto her face. She moved her hands to his abs, lingering there and then exploring his chest. She fingered the collar of his jacket and took it off. Then she began unbuttoning his shirt, but he took it off before she had finished. He took off her top and kissed her again.
She began undoing his belt. He held on to her waist and moved his hands down along her hips. He scooped her up and she wrapped her legs around him. He began walking towards her bedroom. As he placed her gently on the bed, she undid his belt and the rest of their clothes flew off.
His body was hard, but warm on top of hers. He moved slowly...in...out...his breath hot on her neck. She'd been with him before, but now it felt...different.
Bruce started thinking when he should have been enjoying the moment. She had always been there for him, whenever he asked for her help. When that whole thing with Tommy and the Riddler happened, she stood by his side...tried to stop him from killing the Joker. Even after he turned his back on her, ended the relationship, she'd been able to forgive him and welcome him once more into her life. He wanted to hold her forever. He wanted this to last forever. He kissed her, passionately. She returned the kiss with the same fervor.
He wanted to say it, but he knew he shouldn't. Women never believe it. Not if it's during. But he meant it, he felt it. He loved her and he wanted to say it, but he knew he shouldn't. He looked down at her and waited until she looked up at him. I love you, he thought, I love you, Selina.
She looked into his eyes, "I love you," she whispered.
Had he spoken out loud? Had he actually said it? He searched her face. No. She had been the only one to speak.
"Bruce," she said softly, "that's how I feel. It doesn't have to be how you feel."
That stung. He felt as though she had stabbed him. He stopped.
"Bruce, it's okay," she said, reaching up to kiss him, but he pulled away. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said anything."
He sat on the edge of the bed. He felt cold and alone and useless. Why had he come here?
"Bruce...it's kinda cold. C'mon, lay down and cover yourself. Look, we'll be like old married couples...we'll sleep in the same bed and not do anything." She thought he might be smiling, his shoulders were back now, no longer slumped down.
He was smiling. Wondering how he'd been lucky enough to meet this amazing woman. He had just let her down. Again. He'd turned his back on her, quite literally. Again. And here she was, inviting him into her life. Again.
"Selina--" he began, but was cut short.
"Bruce, it's okay. C'mon its cold. We're naked and...It. Is. Cold."
He turned around and took her hands. He held them for a long time. She was about to say "Cold," but he kissed her. Then he stopped and looked at her, "Selina, I do...I do love you. I'm not sure when it happened, but I wouldn't let myself admit it," he paused still looking at her, "and when I heard what they did to you...it felt worse than when I found out they had done the same thing to me..."
Selina jumped on him, kissed him and hugged him, then said, "You know, sometimes you talk too much."
"Oh really?" he asked raising an eyebrow. He flipped her onto her back. "I love you, Selina," he said as he leaned over her.
"I love you, too, Bruce."
They kissed and their bodies became one, wrapped around each other...hot and sweaty...until they burst.
...
Well, she thought, it wasn't the first time I've gone to bed with him and woke up alone. What time is it...ten. I need some coffee.
"Good morning," she heard, then jumped realizing who it was. She walked, cautiously, out of her room and into the hall. She peeked through the doorway and there he was.
"Morning," she finally managed to say.
"I didn't want to wake you, but," he smiled, "I had to move some things, to meditate."
"Sure, no problem."
"I did have some breakfast delivered."
"Thank you," she said as they sat down at the table. She ate slowly, unsure of what to say. She had been fully prepared to find him gone in the morning. She wouldn't have to see him for a while, but his being here...with breakfast ready...sitting at her table...in daylight! Something was wrong. Maybe this wasn't Bruce. Maybe it wasn't him last night either. He had said 'I love you.' Maybe it wasn't him.
"Are you alright?" asked Bruce.
"Huh? What? I...what?"
Bruce stopped smiling, "Selina..."
She looked up at him. It wasn't him. He'd come to her as Bruce. He'd never done that. He'd always been Batman. Especially...especially when it came to her. It was never Selina and Bruce. It was always Catwoman and Batman. She didn't know who this man was.
"I think you should leave," she told him.
"Selina, are you ill? You look pale. Sit down, you're not well--"
"Now!" she yelled, "LEAVE NOW!"
"Alright, alright. I'll leave...let me just call Leslie...she can come over and take a look at you," he picked up her phone and dialed. "Leslie, it's Bruce...no, I'm fine...but Selina--"
She snatched the phone from Bruce. "I'm okay Leslie. Just had some bad Chinese...he's overreacting...yes, you know how men are...alright, I'll stop by later...okay...alright, bye!" She put the phone down.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"I...uh...um...I...wasn't sure you were...well, you." she smiled.
He smiled back. "We've never been here before, have we?"
She shook her head.
"When I got up," he said, "I actually thought of going back to Japan--"
"Boy, when you run away, you really run away."
"No, I came over from Japan. Tokyo, actually." She looked confused, so he continued, "After everything that happened a few months ago, I decided I needed to take some time off and reassess how Batman...well, Nightwing and Robin came along. We were in Tokyo when I started to think about Gotham and...you." A little smile crept over his face.
She looked at him. He looked at her. They looked at each other for a long time.
...
"So what did he say, bro?"
"What do you think he said?"
"He's staying." Tim said sadly.
"Yeah," said Dick, "but only a few more days."
"I knew it."
"No, you didn't. You were ready to cry--"
"No, I wasn't. You're just mad, bro, because I keep beating you. You should stick to the first Robot Warriors," Tim exclaimed, "leave Part 2 to us real men...ow!"
...
"Did you have any plans today?"
"No."
"Sure?"
"Yes."
"Selina."
"Hmm?"
"We can't stay in bed all day, again."
"Why not?"
"Selina."
"Bruce, you said you didn't want to go out, not as Batman and you couldn't be seen as Bruce Wayne, so what did you want to do?"
"I need to get up...to move. I need to workout."
"What do you call what we just did?"
He just looked at her.
"Alright. The exercise room is down the hall to your left." He gave her a kiss and got up. She started laughing.
"What?" he turned around, but she continued laughing. "Selina, what are you laughing at?"
"Have you been wearing only one sock?" she asked, looking down at his feet.
"Yes." he replied, "I couldn't find the other one." he walked out, slammed the door shut, but could still hear her laughing.
When she finally composed herself, she sat up in bed. The sun was setting. We've spent five days like this: eating, sleeping, making love, laughing! And only once had he mentioned Batman...although, sometimes, he looked at me like Batman would, he touched me as Batman. He had not always been Bruce. Either way, we had fun and we had been happy, but...we're lying to ourselves, she thought. We're not just Selina and Bruce, we're also Catwoman and Batman. Neither of us has been out since he got here. How long could this last? Not long.
She got out of bed and got dressed. She left a note for him at the table and went out.
...
Selina thought she'd been out a long time, but when she got back, he was still working out. She wasn't sure if she should go in the room, but she did.
"Hey. You okay?" she asked.
He continued as though she hadn't spoken. She sighed and was about to exit the room when he said, "I have to leave."
"I figured," she said.
"It's not that I--"
"I know." is all she said and walked out. She went over to her couch and sat down. She knew it wasn't going to last, but now that it was over, she felt...empty...sad. Tears formed in her eyes, but she fought them back. She wasn't about to let him see her cry. She heard his footsteps.
"Selina...this has been--"
"We don't have to talk about it, Bruce. I rather we didn't. Anyway, I got you something. It's over on the table."
He went over to the dining table and opened the little blue bag. He smiled.
" I don't have to leave tonight."
"I think it would be better if you did."
He took the bag and went into the bedroom. He had been here almost a week and he hadn't worn much of anything. He felt different these past days with her. They almost seemed like a dream. He was so near Gotham , but he had not thought about anything or anyone except Selina. They had done everything together. They slept together, took showers together, ate together, laughed together...he had laughed...and they actually slept together, next to each other. He had hugged her the whole night. He turned to kiss her whenever he wanted. Each day that passed, they grew closer and more comfortable with each other. Just that morning he had hugged her. Kissed her. And there had been no sense of awkwardness, only warmth and...love. God, he had been happy...like a normal man. It didn't have to end, did it? Yes...it did. It was time to leave this little world they had created for themselves. It was time to get back to reality.
He put on the socks and his shoes. Selina walked in, "I called you a cab. It should be here in ten minutes."
He sat on the bed looking down at his hands. She sat next to him. "I'm glad you came," she said, running her fingers through his hair.
"Me, too."
She leaned in to kiss his cheek, but he turned and grabbed her. He held her tight and kissed her. I'm going to miss you, he thought, God, I'm going to miss you. She broke out of his embrace and looked at him. She kissed him softly and said, "Goodbye, Bruce." and she left the room. He wanted to go after to her. He didn't have to leave yet. He got up and the doorbell rang. He sighed. He got his little blue bag and opened the door.
"You call a cab?" came the question.
"Yes," replied Bruce. He looked back at the apartment hoping to see her...he knew he wouldn't. He wouldn't want to see her leave either, he thought and closed the door.
