14601/From There to Where

From There to Where
Date of Scene:	10 November 2022
Location:	West Village, Nantwich
Synopsis:	Catwoman seems off her game, Batman is concerned
Cast of Characters:	Catwoman, Batman

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Catwoman has posed:\<br\>It's a crisp and chilly November evening, with just the hint of winter crystals in the air tonight. Most people are hurrying home from before a winter storms ravages the city, but a certain black clad Cat Lady lurks on the rooftop of a lovely museum - that has recently been robbed. Alarms blare out below, but Catwoman seems to be in less than a hurry as she stares over the rooftop, looking a bit...Confused perhaps, about something. But with no other suspects around, surely she is the cause of all this chaos?

Batman has posed:\<br\>Bruce Wayne rises up from the skylight, a broken panel of glass shattered around him. He brushes a few broken bits of glass off his shoulders, moving to step properly onto the roof. When he sees Catwoman's presence, he gives a low snort, as close to amusement as he gets while wearing the cowl.\<br\>\<br\>"Magpie beat you to it. Too many shinies," Batman says. "I almost wish it had been you. You give me a better fight. She does show more leg, though," he says.\<br\>\<br\>He reaches into his beltline, drawing out a cellular phone and pressing in a code. The alarm stops. "Police should be gone in a few minutes, along with the ambulance. Not much mystery here."

Catwoman has posed:\<br\>Catwoman isn't quite on her game as usual, spinning just a bit too slowly around to face him, and she snarls, baring her teeth, showing off those deadly claws. "What do you want, come to claim the credit for bagging the Catwoman..? Cuz there's no way as hell I'm gonna surrender to YOU."\<br\>\<br\>Rrrowr, someone is a bit catty tonight, and she's already reaching for that whip..Oh wait, he just turned off the alarm system..? "The hell? Whose side are you on, anyway..?" whatever terms they left on the last time..Well, her head seems a bit fuzzy on the details as she tries to recall exactly what those are.\<br\>\<br\>Wild animals are always cautious, wounded animals even more so.

Batman has posed:\<br\>Bruce Wayne shakes his head, "You didn't do anything tonight. And, as I said, I've already had my workout. Unless you're absolutely determined to make me hurt you, I'd rather not, if it can be avoided," he says, straightening his gloves.\<br\>\<br\>"I haven't seen you in a while. On a rooftop or anywhere else," he says. The two of you had nearly crossed a line of intimacy some years ago, but the moment had broken and there had been conflict, towards the end of the last attempt the two of you had made. But he is still The Batman and he is anything but warm. "Anyway, you'd be out of the back of that squad car before it got within ten blocks of the station and we both know it."

Catwoman has posed:\<br\>Catwoman arches a brow at that and smirks, her stance shifting slightly, relaxing in subtle ways. Sure, they had nearly become..Something else, but it was a bit ago, and..Things had happened since then. Cats can be moody and weird that way. "Mmm, is that so...What makes you so certain that I didn't set that alarm off? Or maybe it's simply that you don't wanna believe that I really am a bad girl Afterall? Better get used to it, this is who I really am.." but is it, really? She hasn't attacked yet! anyway, instead, thoughtfully stroking the handle of her whip, not having quite unravelled it yet.

Batman has posed:\<br\>Bruce Wayne watches the whip. He's no fool and he's felt the kiss of that stiff leather a time or two already. Even has a scar or two to go along with the memory, running down along the side of his neck just below his collar line, down across the back of his shoulder. He'd had to improve the integrity on his costume after that. A few of those other licks had come too close for comfort in a variety of vital areas.\<br\>\<br\>He's wary, yes, always prepared. He's the God Damn Batman. But he also knows Selina as more than just a thief, more than just a thorn in his side. "There are things I know and things I don't know. I do know that you didn't set off that alarm, because I caught the person that did. She was clumsy, not in your league. Also quite certainly mad," he says, the moonlight catching behind him and you can see his breath in the cool air of the night. "You aren't insane, as far as I know. Just materialistic. There are degrees of bad. And you're not a girl, you're a woman. Unless you've decided to change your name?" he says. Was that teasing?

Catwoman has posed:\<br\>Catwoman narrows her eyes intensely at him, shaking g her head, and then the laughs, turning slowly to peer over the edge of the rooftop again. "Hah...I must be losing my touch..Guess I hit my head harder than; I thought." and. of course it can't be seen under the mask she wears, that weird cat shaped helmet that seems to offer at least a bit of protection..But perhaps she needs stronger armour too. In fact, as she speaks she idly rubs her head, wincing a bit. "However it happened! could t have been that sloppy thief. Haven't been thinking clearly lately though.." she admits with a sigh, slipping g the while back in its holster.\<br\>\<br\>Perhaps she has already decided she's not in the mood for a fight. Or perhaps she is simply starting to trust the Batman a bit more these days. Even if her memory is fuzzy, they've had quite a long track record together for better or worse. "Well then, my Dark Avenger.." she purrs, running a finger over her lips as she turns to face him with another sly smirk, "If you're not here to attempt to arrest me, then why *are* you here?" there is a hint of amusement in her silky voice as she says that.

Batman has posed:\<br\>Bruce Wayne peers at her for a moment. He knows the symptoms of neural injury, cranial trauma. Something in the way Catwoman moves, he knows she's had a twinge to that neck. More than a twinge. "You were injured," he says. Again, not a question. World's greatest detective. "I trust you've actually seen a doctor? Had a proper neurological check, scans? I can arrange for that, all anonymously, if you have any need of it," he says, the offer unhesitating and direct. He knows you don't like doing things officially. Filling out paperwork. He'd probably rather suffer than make yourself vulnerable under the knife of a surgeon you don't know.\<br\>\<br\>All supposition, of course, The educated guesses of one of the keenest intellects on the planet. But he might be wrong. For as much as he spoke about 'facts' and 'evidence', he wasn't sure he entirely believed in such things as certainty anymore. He never used to doubt anything. Now? Despite his experience, he doubts himself maybe more than ever. How can he not, when he can so easily read the roadmap of his own mistakes.\<br\>\<br\>He catches the gloved hand, but leaves that finger on his lower lip, meeting her eyes directly. "You knew you'd see me if you came to Gotham. Don't pretend otherwise. Not that I want you to. I'm glad you wanted to see me. Even if indirectly. Unless there's a treasure in Gotham that I don't know about?" he aks.

Catwoman has posed:\<br\>Catwoman scowls a bit more at that, shaking her head, "Nah, don't need no doctors, it was just a nick really, nothing important.." or maybe she simply doesn't trust anyone enough with her life in their hands, "Now you're just being dramatic." but of course he's probably right. She's not feeling quite her usual self..But can she afford to lower her guard, even now?r\<br\>His last comment causes her to smile a small, self conscious smile, before shaking g her head, wiping it away just as quickly, "You missed me that much, huh? Maybe I had my own reasons for being here. I DO live in Gotham too Afterall.." even if she briefly skipped town for a while, for..Unknown reasons.

Batman has posed:\<br\>Bruce Wayne cocks his head, an almost owlish gesture, despite him being dressed as a bat. "Your brain isn't important? Your spine?" he says. "I don't care if you're angry with me, but the stress we put our bodies through, we'll break if we don't maintain ourselves. I know. I broke. I've broken...more than once," he admits, his own voice softening slightly. The barest hint of the man who lives underneath both Batman and Bruce Wayne, at least the version that everyone else sees.\<br\>\<br\>"I did miss you," he admits. "How could I not? And you don't just live here. This is your home. Just like it's mine. I just keep wanting to talk you into helping me keep it a nicer place to live. Sometimes violently."\<br\>\<br\>Again, almost a smile. "And maybe. Maybe I can...look the other way. Now and then. As long as nobody gets hurt."

Catwoman has posed:\<br\>Catwoman blinks slowly at that, and suddenly laughs, shaking her head stubbornly. "Tsk, tsk, Bats, you've grown soft. Thought I was your enemy, we'll always be on the opposite side of the law no matter how hard you try to change me.. Best to keep our distance. Things get too..Complicated otherwise. Don't worry about me, I can take care of myself.."\<br\>\<br\>She turns away again, stepping closer toward the roof's edge and unravels her whip, pulling it back as if she's getting ready to swing it towards a nearby rooftop..When a sudden bout of dizziness hits her and she gasps in surprise, losing her footing and stumbling precariously towards the edge of the rooftop..

Batman has posed:\<br\>Batman's reflexes remains swifter than almost any man's, even with the limits of age and wear that have been put on him by the simple fact of his mortality. He has battled on distant worlds, alongside titans and he has fought in the dirtiest slums against drunkards with knives. None of them had been safe and all had taken their toll. But still, he catches her, grasping at her arm and pulling her into his chest, a securing grip lacing around the small of her back to anchor her to the roof with his weight.\<br\>\<br\>"Not soft. Mature. I'm a Bat, after all. Shades of grey are hard for me to see. It took me a while to recognize them," he admits. "Maybe I've been too hard. Not just on you. On everyone. Don't think that doesn't mean I'm going to go any easier on our enemies. But I do start wanting to be better...to my friends. That includes you. Whatever differences we might have about...property rights," he says.

Catwoman has posed:\<br\>Catwoman blinks slowly, emerald eyes widen in confusion and fear as the world spins out of control..And then suddenly he's there, holding her steady, holding her close..Too close. Part of her wants to fight back..But part of her...Enjoys this, craves this closeness to him.\<br\>\<br\>"Heh.." she laughs, squeezing her eyes shut as she tries to regain her balance, stiffening at first..Before leaning in closer, drawing in a shaky breath. She missed this too, even if she won't admit it.\<br\>\<br\>"Bet you had this all planned out too, huh? Big bad bat. swoops in to save the day." she smiles, a subtly softer smile as she draws in another breath, inhaling his familiar scent.

Batman has posed:\<br\>Bruce Wayne does smile, this time. Just for once.\<br\>\<br\>"Everyone always thinks I plan everything. That I'm sort sort of Machiavelli, pulling all the strings. Animal Man once told me to blame someone called 'Grant Morrison'. Couldn't find any record of that. Don't know what it means."\<br\>\<br\>"No, like in all things, we are following laws. The laws of probability. The laws of attraction. We always cross paths, Cat, because that is what we do, when left to our own devices."