FIC: Shadows in the night
Took me forever to finish this, it didn't seem to reach a point where it could stop. I don't know why, it just kept going and going... everyone was grinning like a fool and I couldn't get the image of young Rusty/Danny/Bruce out of my head. Selina found that image very amusing too :)
This is for ilyena_sylph (I wanted to finish it when you were sick, but I'm so slow!), who planted the bunny almost a month ago. I wrote this mostly in school while I was bored, and it helped me get used to write with people around me. I’m getting there! There’s subtle hints of the Rogue World speculating about Deathstroke/Nightwing, though it was just in passing and I seriously don’t know where did it came from. I don’t know how this turned to slash, Yena, though there’s still bat/cat here, and some fun flirting between Danny and Selina. I just can’t keep away from the idea of a young Bruce cavorting with young Danny and Rusty. Shenanigans!
Not betaed. You point, I correct and give cookies!
Fandom: DCU+Ocean’s Eleven
Characters: Catwoman, Danny Ocean, Batman
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Catwoman finds a thief during patrol, Batman shows up for pleasantries.
Word count: 2000+
Shadows in the Night
Selina’s lips curved into an amused smile as she saw the scene before her unfold. There was beauty and grace in a well executed hit; brilliant minds did their best work with carefully planned jobs like this one, a thief in the night currently removing colorful Indian Knoll bannerstones from the Gotham Kane’s Museum.
The Museum’s alarm hadn’t been triggered and the point of entry was concealed; no detail had been left unattended. Whoever was pulling the hit was a pro, and it made her insides tingle. She licked her lips, close to purring. It had been a while since she’d last seen someone so good at work. She lowered her binoculars and tucked them in her belt, then uncoiled her whip and ran to the edge of the building she was using as a vantage point, making her way to the roof of the Kane.
The night air was crisp and cool, the sounds of the city a cacophony well known to her heart. She waited beside the only possible exit, threading the leather of her whip through her fingers, waiting patiently. She wasn’t sure what she was going to do with the thief once she confronted him -and it was definitely a he, for no matter how graceful and skilled the hit was, it lacked female finesse.
She had been -was- a cat burglar, but her skills had been put to another use lately, one not without moments of satisfaction. It was always pleasant to scare a bunch of amateurs out of their minds for trying to pull a hit in her city -she snorted, surprised at her moment of territoriality. She was starting to sound like him, she had better keep a close eye on those slips. Anyway, it was fun to crack the whip and look at their faces, their surprise at being caught -and well, duh, of course they were going to be caught, freaking amateurs- and then the flash of disdain and overconfidence, thinking numbers would be enough to overcome her. Seriously, what was it with petty thieves these days? In Gotham, one had to know their place, and Catwoman was a force to reckon. Just ask the Big Bad Bat how many times he had been able to stop her. She grinned to herself, remembering the thrill of the chase, back in the day when they had been on more diametrical sides.
The thief extricated himself from the Museum and stood on the rooftop, a silhouette in the night. Selina appraised him from the shadows, taking in his handsome profile and elegant lines. That he didn’t wear a mask was a vote of confidence to his own ability, sure that he wouldn’t be caught on tape. He wasn’t very tall and had a regular complexion, not too light, not too bulky, but she had the inkling that he would look dashing in well-tailored clothes. A small smile tugged at his lips as he stood still, his eyes lost in the night.
“I was expecting one of Gotham’s masks, but this is a very nice surprise,” he spoke to the wind. Selina took a couple of steps towards him, playing with her whip as she moved. “I thought this wasn’t your side of the city, Miss Kitty.”
She grinned dangerously. “You obviously have never tried to tell a cat that something is off-limits, Mr. Thief. We don’t care for ‘sides’. You, on the other hand,” she stepped closer, “you came here looking to be caught? You’re either a man with a mission or a very stupid man.”
He smiled mischievously, the corner of his eyes wrinkling as he did. “Isn’t any man worth knowing a little bit of both?”
Selina laughed. “I don’t care much for the stupid part, but that’s definitely part of the package.” She circled him, her step sure and light. “I don’t think I know you, handsome. Seems like a shame right now, since once Gotham is done with you, there’s not going to be much left to know.”
“Gotham, be done with me? Never.” He lifted his arms at his sides, gesturing to embrace the night. “What about you, Miss Kitty? Will you be as lenient and let this thief go?”
Selina stopped for a moment to consider the man. He wasn’t denying being an outlaw -which, having been caught in the middle of the deed, was of no use, but most criminals would still find a way to get around the label- and he wasn’t reacting violently. “Why should I let you leave, if you were looking to be caught?”
They stared at each other in silence for a minute. The thief’s smile became apologetic, and he looked away, a hint of forlorn fondness on his open face.
“I wasn’t expecting you,” he admitted. “Not that I’m not delighted to make your acquaintance, you’re quite a legend in the field.”
It took her a moment to decide which Gotham mask the thief had been expecting. He was too old to have memories that elicited the forlorn fondness that had overtaken his features about the late Robins, and though the older Robin had well known criminal acquaintances -Selina smiled, Gotham’s vigilantes didn’t seem to be able to keep themselves from entangling with the rogues- his tastes ran in another direction. She reached the obvious conclusion, even if she found it a little hard to believe.
“Batman won’t be happy to see you if you’re stealing in his city.”
“I take it you’re talking from experience.”
Selina grinned. “Oh, he was always happy to see me, he just didn’t like to admit it.”
The man grinned back. “Hard to hold that against him, dear. He is just a man, and you…” he regarded her from head to toe. “Well, mere mortals don’t stand a chance.”
Selina tried to hold back her curiosity. The thief had a fondness of Batman and he thought he was just a mortal man. Not an acolyte of the temple of the Bat, obviously, but someone who knew him. Someone who knew him and who was a thief, someone willing to flaunt his talents as a criminal to get his attention when it pleased him. “I think you and I might have a lot in common, handsome.”
“I know that for a fact,” he replied, still grinning like the cat that ate the canary. “I don’t think we’re alone anymore, Miss Kitty.”
She felt a shift in the shadows as the thief spoke, and she turned to greet the dark figure. “Your friend is trying to talk his way into keeping those bannerstones, Batman. I’m thinking about letting him if he is willing to share some stories with me.”
Batman stepped out into the light. He grunted, part greeting, part disapproval of her plan to let the thief go, and he nodded to the shorter man. “Danny,” he graveled.
The thief’s smile grew wider, his dark eyes gleaming with mischievousness. “I’m just out of jail. Thought it would be nice to touch base.”
“Some people use the telephone,” Batman continued, his tone a little annoyed.
Selina couldn’t stop grinning at the thought of having caught Batman willing to cavort with criminals. “Where’s the fun in that?”
Batman turned his head to glare at her, eyeing both of them in turns. He was obviously just realizing that they could team up on him. “I trust you were able to keep a modicum of discretion,” he said, though Selina wasn’t sure if he was talking to her or the thief.
“Just satisfying my curiosity. I think your friend has juicier stories than mine,” she purred, dragging a claw over his chest.
“Didn’t even give her my name until you blurted it out, Captain Confidential.”
The corner of Batman’s lip tugged upwards, reluctantly letting a smirk flourish. “You’re quite a celebrity in the medium, Danny. I didn’t think you would mind a beautiful woman making your acquaintance.”
Danny barked a laugh. “Not particularly, no.”
A comfortable silence fell over the rooftop, and Selina felt a bout of laughter bubble inside her. Was she hanging out with Batman and his thief friend, making small talk? What was next? Heading to a diner in full costume?
“How’s Tess?” Batman asked, breaking the silence.
“Good, good. She’s doing good. We’re back together, but I guess you already heard,” Danny answered, looking sheepish.
“I heard. Rusty called. Some people do know how to use a phone.”
“Oh, I’m sure that’s why he called,” Danny shook his head in disbelief. “What did he want backing for?”
“Nothing.” Batman shifted in his place, looking uncomfortable.
“Right, because you don’t fund criminals.”
Batman grunted in response.
“Anyway. Just wanted to let you know I’m out. And we’re fine.”
“Good.”
“I guess you’re not going to let me keep the bannerstones.”
Batman’s mouth quirked upwards again. “Not in my city, Danny. You know the rules.”
“I never know if your rules are worth the trouble, B. I guess I would have to ask someone in the know,” he nodded towards Selina. “Do you get many benefits out of playing by his rules, Miss Kitty?”
“Who says I play by his rules?” She gave him an impish grin.
Batman huffed, resigned. Danny walked to stand in front of the vigilante, handing him the stones. “I’ll see you soon,” the shorter man clasped the Kevlar-clad arm enthusiastically. Batman nodded curtly, and the thief walked to the edge of the building, flashing a smile towards Selina. “My pleasure, Miss Kitty. I hope we’ll be able to trade stories at some other time. I’m a big fan of your work.”
“It’s a date, handsome.”
Danny nodded and waved at them just before he turned around to jump off the edge of the building. Selina turned toward the vigilante, a smug grin on her face. “Interesting friend you have there.”
Batman growled, non-committal. The wind picked up and his cape fluttered around them, the flap of fabric mixing with the sounds of late traffic down the street. “Did you always make it a point to hang out with thieves?”
Selina waited a minute for a response, and then he finally capitulated with a sigh. “Con-men. They are con-men. I used to, not so much anymore.”
“They still call you to catch up and ask for favors.”
“Maybe I call them too.”
“What? You have been seeing other thieves? Gee, Batman, you sure know you to make a girl feel special,” she deadpanned.
The cowl didn’t show much of his facial expressions, but Selina could recognize an eye roll anywhere. “I don’t get jealous of other vigilantes, do I?”
“You do. You totally do. You’re a possessive obsessive freak when it comes to your city and your...” Selina trailed off, unsure of what to call herself. Friend? Acquaintance? Ally? Former enemy? Sometimes lover?
“My what?”
“Your… whatever people around you are.”
“Family.”
“Oh. Are we cousins then? Because I think that’s really gross.” She grinned as she stood on her toes, leaning really close.
He laughed, a low rumbling sound. “No. Not cousins.”
“Good.” She licked her lips, only a couple of inches apart from his own. “What about Danny?”
“What about him?”
“Not family either?”
Batman cocked his head, thoughtful. “Not exactly. Not for a very long time, at least.”
“Oh?”
Batman gave her a half smile, one that could only mean trouble. “We were young and… bold. Rusty and Danny had a lot to teach to an impressionable idle scion.”
Selina laughed brazenly. “No way.”
“You wanted the story. You were fishing for details.”
“No way!” She broke into laugher again, making the half smile on his face widen. “Now I have to meet Danny again. And this Rusty guy. Maybe plan a weekend getaway to really get the full story.”
“You might need more than a weekend.”
“Don’t flatter yourself, handsome. I can be a very persuasive interrogator, a weekend would be enough.”
Batman picked his grapple gun, and walked to the edge of the building, his cape hugging his body as he gave his back to the wind. He shot the gun, and just before he jumped, he turned to look at her, a fond smile on his lips. “If you see them, tell them I said hi.”
He jumped into the abyss, leaving Selina to laugh on her own as she ran across the rooftops, flailing her whip from grapple point to grapple point. The world below them caught only glimpses of furtive shadows in the night.
This is for ilyena_sylph (I wanted to finish it when you were sick, but I'm so slow!), who planted the bunny almost a month ago. I wrote this mostly in school while I was bored, and it helped me get used to write with people around me. I’m getting there! There’s subtle hints of the Rogue World speculating about Deathstroke/Nightwing, though it was just in passing and I seriously don’t know where did it came from. I don’t know how this turned to slash, Yena, though there’s still bat/cat here, and some fun flirting between Danny and Selina. I just can’t keep away from the idea of a young Bruce cavorting with young Danny and Rusty. Shenanigans!
Not betaed. You point, I correct and give cookies!
Fandom: DCU+Ocean’s Eleven
Characters: Catwoman, Danny Ocean, Batman
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Catwoman finds a thief during patrol, Batman shows up for pleasantries.
Word count: 2000+
Shadows in the Night
Selina’s lips curved into an amused smile as she saw the scene before her unfold. There was beauty and grace in a well executed hit; brilliant minds did their best work with carefully planned jobs like this one, a thief in the night currently removing colorful Indian Knoll bannerstones from the Gotham Kane’s Museum.
The Museum’s alarm hadn’t been triggered and the point of entry was concealed; no detail had been left unattended. Whoever was pulling the hit was a pro, and it made her insides tingle. She licked her lips, close to purring. It had been a while since she’d last seen someone so good at work. She lowered her binoculars and tucked them in her belt, then uncoiled her whip and ran to the edge of the building she was using as a vantage point, making her way to the roof of the Kane.
The night air was crisp and cool, the sounds of the city a cacophony well known to her heart. She waited beside the only possible exit, threading the leather of her whip through her fingers, waiting patiently. She wasn’t sure what she was going to do with the thief once she confronted him -and it was definitely a he, for no matter how graceful and skilled the hit was, it lacked female finesse.
She had been -was- a cat burglar, but her skills had been put to another use lately, one not without moments of satisfaction. It was always pleasant to scare a bunch of amateurs out of their minds for trying to pull a hit in her city -she snorted, surprised at her moment of territoriality. She was starting to sound like him, she had better keep a close eye on those slips. Anyway, it was fun to crack the whip and look at their faces, their surprise at being caught -and well, duh, of course they were going to be caught, freaking amateurs- and then the flash of disdain and overconfidence, thinking numbers would be enough to overcome her. Seriously, what was it with petty thieves these days? In Gotham, one had to know their place, and Catwoman was a force to reckon. Just ask the Big Bad Bat how many times he had been able to stop her. She grinned to herself, remembering the thrill of the chase, back in the day when they had been on more diametrical sides.
The thief extricated himself from the Museum and stood on the rooftop, a silhouette in the night. Selina appraised him from the shadows, taking in his handsome profile and elegant lines. That he didn’t wear a mask was a vote of confidence to his own ability, sure that he wouldn’t be caught on tape. He wasn’t very tall and had a regular complexion, not too light, not too bulky, but she had the inkling that he would look dashing in well-tailored clothes. A small smile tugged at his lips as he stood still, his eyes lost in the night.
“I was expecting one of Gotham’s masks, but this is a very nice surprise,” he spoke to the wind. Selina took a couple of steps towards him, playing with her whip as she moved. “I thought this wasn’t your side of the city, Miss Kitty.”
She grinned dangerously. “You obviously have never tried to tell a cat that something is off-limits, Mr. Thief. We don’t care for ‘sides’. You, on the other hand,” she stepped closer, “you came here looking to be caught? You’re either a man with a mission or a very stupid man.”
He smiled mischievously, the corner of his eyes wrinkling as he did. “Isn’t any man worth knowing a little bit of both?”
Selina laughed. “I don’t care much for the stupid part, but that’s definitely part of the package.” She circled him, her step sure and light. “I don’t think I know you, handsome. Seems like a shame right now, since once Gotham is done with you, there’s not going to be much left to know.”
“Gotham, be done with me? Never.” He lifted his arms at his sides, gesturing to embrace the night. “What about you, Miss Kitty? Will you be as lenient and let this thief go?”
Selina stopped for a moment to consider the man. He wasn’t denying being an outlaw -which, having been caught in the middle of the deed, was of no use, but most criminals would still find a way to get around the label- and he wasn’t reacting violently. “Why should I let you leave, if you were looking to be caught?”
They stared at each other in silence for a minute. The thief’s smile became apologetic, and he looked away, a hint of forlorn fondness on his open face.
“I wasn’t expecting you,” he admitted. “Not that I’m not delighted to make your acquaintance, you’re quite a legend in the field.”
It took her a moment to decide which Gotham mask the thief had been expecting. He was too old to have memories that elicited the forlorn fondness that had overtaken his features about the late Robins, and though the older Robin had well known criminal acquaintances -Selina smiled, Gotham’s vigilantes didn’t seem to be able to keep themselves from entangling with the rogues- his tastes ran in another direction. She reached the obvious conclusion, even if she found it a little hard to believe.
“Batman won’t be happy to see you if you’re stealing in his city.”
“I take it you’re talking from experience.”
Selina grinned. “Oh, he was always happy to see me, he just didn’t like to admit it.”
The man grinned back. “Hard to hold that against him, dear. He is just a man, and you…” he regarded her from head to toe. “Well, mere mortals don’t stand a chance.”
Selina tried to hold back her curiosity. The thief had a fondness of Batman and he thought he was just a mortal man. Not an acolyte of the temple of the Bat, obviously, but someone who knew him. Someone who knew him and who was a thief, someone willing to flaunt his talents as a criminal to get his attention when it pleased him. “I think you and I might have a lot in common, handsome.”
“I know that for a fact,” he replied, still grinning like the cat that ate the canary. “I don’t think we’re alone anymore, Miss Kitty.”
She felt a shift in the shadows as the thief spoke, and she turned to greet the dark figure. “Your friend is trying to talk his way into keeping those bannerstones, Batman. I’m thinking about letting him if he is willing to share some stories with me.”
Batman stepped out into the light. He grunted, part greeting, part disapproval of her plan to let the thief go, and he nodded to the shorter man. “Danny,” he graveled.
The thief’s smile grew wider, his dark eyes gleaming with mischievousness. “I’m just out of jail. Thought it would be nice to touch base.”
“Some people use the telephone,” Batman continued, his tone a little annoyed.
Selina couldn’t stop grinning at the thought of having caught Batman willing to cavort with criminals. “Where’s the fun in that?”
Batman turned his head to glare at her, eyeing both of them in turns. He was obviously just realizing that they could team up on him. “I trust you were able to keep a modicum of discretion,” he said, though Selina wasn’t sure if he was talking to her or the thief.
“Just satisfying my curiosity. I think your friend has juicier stories than mine,” she purred, dragging a claw over his chest.
“Didn’t even give her my name until you blurted it out, Captain Confidential.”
The corner of Batman’s lip tugged upwards, reluctantly letting a smirk flourish. “You’re quite a celebrity in the medium, Danny. I didn’t think you would mind a beautiful woman making your acquaintance.”
Danny barked a laugh. “Not particularly, no.”
A comfortable silence fell over the rooftop, and Selina felt a bout of laughter bubble inside her. Was she hanging out with Batman and his thief friend, making small talk? What was next? Heading to a diner in full costume?
“How’s Tess?” Batman asked, breaking the silence.
“Good, good. She’s doing good. We’re back together, but I guess you already heard,” Danny answered, looking sheepish.
“I heard. Rusty called. Some people do know how to use a phone.”
“Oh, I’m sure that’s why he called,” Danny shook his head in disbelief. “What did he want backing for?”
“Nothing.” Batman shifted in his place, looking uncomfortable.
“Right, because you don’t fund criminals.”
Batman grunted in response.
“Anyway. Just wanted to let you know I’m out. And we’re fine.”
“Good.”
“I guess you’re not going to let me keep the bannerstones.”
Batman’s mouth quirked upwards again. “Not in my city, Danny. You know the rules.”
“I never know if your rules are worth the trouble, B. I guess I would have to ask someone in the know,” he nodded towards Selina. “Do you get many benefits out of playing by his rules, Miss Kitty?”
“Who says I play by his rules?” She gave him an impish grin.
Batman huffed, resigned. Danny walked to stand in front of the vigilante, handing him the stones. “I’ll see you soon,” the shorter man clasped the Kevlar-clad arm enthusiastically. Batman nodded curtly, and the thief walked to the edge of the building, flashing a smile towards Selina. “My pleasure, Miss Kitty. I hope we’ll be able to trade stories at some other time. I’m a big fan of your work.”
“It’s a date, handsome.”
Danny nodded and waved at them just before he turned around to jump off the edge of the building. Selina turned toward the vigilante, a smug grin on her face. “Interesting friend you have there.”
Batman growled, non-committal. The wind picked up and his cape fluttered around them, the flap of fabric mixing with the sounds of late traffic down the street. “Did you always make it a point to hang out with thieves?”
Selina waited a minute for a response, and then he finally capitulated with a sigh. “Con-men. They are con-men. I used to, not so much anymore.”
“They still call you to catch up and ask for favors.”
“Maybe I call them too.”
“What? You have been seeing other thieves? Gee, Batman, you sure know you to make a girl feel special,” she deadpanned.
The cowl didn’t show much of his facial expressions, but Selina could recognize an eye roll anywhere. “I don’t get jealous of other vigilantes, do I?”
“You do. You totally do. You’re a possessive obsessive freak when it comes to your city and your...” Selina trailed off, unsure of what to call herself. Friend? Acquaintance? Ally? Former enemy? Sometimes lover?
“My what?”
“Your… whatever people around you are.”
“Family.”
“Oh. Are we cousins then? Because I think that’s really gross.” She grinned as she stood on her toes, leaning really close.
He laughed, a low rumbling sound. “No. Not cousins.”
“Good.” She licked her lips, only a couple of inches apart from his own. “What about Danny?”
“What about him?”
“Not family either?”
Batman cocked his head, thoughtful. “Not exactly. Not for a very long time, at least.”
“Oh?”
Batman gave her a half smile, one that could only mean trouble. “We were young and… bold. Rusty and Danny had a lot to teach to an impressionable idle scion.”
Selina laughed brazenly. “No way.”
“You wanted the story. You were fishing for details.”
“No way!” She broke into laugher again, making the half smile on his face widen. “Now I have to meet Danny again. And this Rusty guy. Maybe plan a weekend getaway to really get the full story.”
“You might need more than a weekend.”
“Don’t flatter yourself, handsome. I can be a very persuasive interrogator, a weekend would be enough.”
Batman picked his grapple gun, and walked to the edge of the building, his cape hugging his body as he gave his back to the wind. He shot the gun, and just before he jumped, he turned to look at her, a fond smile on his lips. “If you see them, tell them I said hi.”
He jumped into the abyss, leaving Selina to laugh on her own as she ran across the rooftops, flailing her whip from grapple point to grapple point. The world below them caught only glimpses of furtive shadows in the night.