8 The Dark Knight Rises Recs, Selina Kyle/Bruce Wayne aka Catwoman/Her Batman
Posting because the movie had me jumping for joy and this pairing won me over at the age of seven, so of course I'm gonna spread the love. ;)
Fandom Category: The Dark Knight Rises
Pairing: Selina Kyle/Bruce Wayne
Fic Title: Spectrum: A Catwoman Continuation
Author: thatcraftykid
Link: Spectrum
Rating/Warning(s): T
Genre: Post-movie, Drama
WIP?: Yes (so that means there's more to look forward to ;)
Why This Must Be Read: Where to begin with this fic? First off, the language of it is just gorgeous, ranging from lyrical and poetic to raw and real - but whatever the tone, it's absolutely lovely. The symbolism of it is also beautiful, making good use of the now-iconic necklace as well as weaving in A Tale of Two Cities seamlessly into the narrative - the literary nerd in me squealed, and got the urge to go and reread the book, because, really? Did it really fit Bruce and Selina's story that well? This fic takes Dickens's words and puts them into the mouths of TDKR's characters, and it isn't out of place at all.
But what I really, really, really love about this story, and consequently, why you MUST read it, is Selina's characterization. It captures her so well, better than any other I've read (with the possible exception of Adaptation (now also at AO3), which irony_rocks already gave a glowing reference for - go read that, too!!!). This fic delves into her mind and heart, and shines a little light into the shadows in them. It captures all facets of her: bold and passionate, rash and reckless, flirtatious and coy, despairing and angry, hopeful and caring. It makes her real.
Plus, there's this awesome kick-ass scene where she says farewell to Jim Gordon and Gotham PD that had me rolling around the floor laughing, followed by the most beautiful moment with Alfred that had me reaching for tissues. Seriously. And that's just chapter one. Chapter two had an intriguing and insightful look at what it was like for Selina, growing up in a Gotham "after the Waynes were shot," watching their son and thinking that "his face was what special looked like. She thought that special was something she could mimic." I'm quoting directly here. And if that doesn't convince you to go read it, hopefully the excerpt will:
Excerpt:
By nightfall, the only fire in the city was the one relit on top of the bridge. From uptown to Old Town, the citizens of Gotham came out to watch the symbol of their freedom from fear burn for them. Under its light, they organized safe havens and search parties.
She knew then that her promise to Gordon wasn't going to amount to much work. The citizens of Gotham had taken back their city with the strength of the Dark Knight's convictions.
Selina Kyle was a citizen of Gotham. Born and raised, for better or worse. For worse, her six-inch thick police report would say. She would have agreed months ago. Even hours ago.
The legacy of the Batman, she thought as she hid away his cycle and traded in her cat suit for head-to-heel Prada. The power of a Bruce Wayne guilt-trip, she was thinking when she redistributed stockpiled goods by day and rid the streets of the insane by night.
He'd given her a clean slate, knowing even before she did that she'd stick around to earn it.
Fandom Category: The Dark Knight Rises
Pairing: Selina Kyle/Bruce Wayne
Fic Title: a fever in my heart
Author: thecivilunrest
Link: a fever in my heart
Rating/Warning(s): T
Genre: Post-movie
WIP?: No
Why This Must Be Read: Summary says, "He doesn't invite her, doesn't even really imply that she's to be a part of that life. But Selina knows what it's like to lose him, and like hell is he getting away from her that easily. The only person that is allowed to leave after this is her." A lovely reunion scene that captures their interactions very well: not quite trusting, not quite yet, but they're willing to try. Has Selina at her snarky best. :)
Fandom Category: The Dark Knight Rises
Pairing: Selina Kyle/Bruce Wayne
Fic Title: Echoes of a War
Author: girl_wonder
Link: Echoes of a War
Rating/Warning(s): T
Genre: Post-movie
WIP?: No
Why This Must Be Read: The first Selina/Bruce fic I read - I literally got home, turned on my computer, went to AO3, and this lovely gem was sitting there. A totally plausible look at how they dance around each other, how they flirt and tease and keep their distance while coming ever closer, and how their past still weighs heavy, especially on Bruce but also Selina. Plus, Alfred makes an appearance, and so does Helena. Fellow comics fans, you get the reference, right? Anyways, it's serious and funny and cute all at once, and it ought to be read. ;)
Fandom Category: The Dark Knight Rises
Pairing: Selina Kyle/Bruce Wayne
Fic Title: Healing
Author: lilyflower08
Link: Healing
Rating/Warning(s): T
Genre: Post-movie
WIP?: No
Why This Must Be Read: Summary says, "In which Bruce learns to heal, and Selina learns to trust." A post-movie fic that wonderfully captures Selina's grief at Bruce's perceived death, her joy at their reunion, and the way they build a not-so-perfect-but-still-happy life together. Has a different but super-cute Alfred/Florence/cafe scene, complete with two adorable kids. :D
Fandom Category: The Dark Knight Rises
Pairing: Selina Kyle/Bruce Wayne
Fic Title: The Hollow Men
Author: Lia Felix (acariad)
Link: The Hollow Men
Rating/Warning(s): T
Genre: Post-movie
WIP?: No
Why This Must Be Read: It has the best reaction Selina has to finding out Bruce is alive ever. It's hilarious and sweet and touching and violent and so very, very Selina that I'd rec it for that alone, but then it goes on and provides this realistic portrait of their relationship that's just so in-character that I stare at my computer screen and sigh contentedly.
Fandom Category: The Dark Knight Rises
Pairing: Selina Kyle/Bruce Wayne
Fic Title: Après Nous, La Déluge.
Author: Feather (lalaietha)
Link: Après Nous, La Déluge.
Rating/Warning(s): T
Genre: Post-movie
WIP?: No
Why This Must Be Read: "Ten drabbles on the way to Florence." A short piece, but it certainly makes an impact. Not a word is wasted: the dialogue's pitch-perfect and utterly them, their actions and interactions are spot-on, and so much emotion is captured in just a few syllables that it almost feels like a magic trick. But it isn't...it's just good writing. ;)
Fandom Category: The Dark Knight Rises
Pairing: Selina Kyle/Bruce Wayne
Fic Title: Kaleidoscope Hearts
Author: This Rhythm
Link: Kaleidoscope Hearts
Rating/Warning(s): T
Genre: Post-movie
WIP?: No
Why This Must Be Read: This fic really shows how human they both are - it's a gorgeous, stunning piece that traces Bruce and Selina's journey from Gotham to Florence, literally mapping it out and showing how their relationship progresses on the way. They make mistakes, they hurt each other, they fight, they laugh, they talk, they get to know each other - they build a life together. And it's good. :)
Fandom Category: The Dark Knight Rises
Pairing: Selina Kyle/Bruce Wayne
Fic Title: The Devil is in the Details
Author: Irony_Rocks
Link: The Devil is in the Details
Rating/Warning(s): M
Genre: Post-movie
WIP?: No
Why This Must Be Read: Because it's beautiful. I could leave it at that and it would be perfectly accurate, because "beautiful" is what I think when I think of this work. And not the kind of ordinary, glowing, flawless beauty - it's a dark and real and gritty and complicated and lovely and fragile and strong and hopeful and hopeless kind of beauty at all once. It's breath-taking, like you gasp "Oh!" and smile, and it's also breath-taking, like you go "Oof!" and get slammed into a brick wall. (Trust me, in this case that's a good thing.) It has Selina not yet trusting Bruce but loving him despite herself anyway, and it's got Bruce being his broken, aching, tortured self but still managing to crawl his way towards a better future.
Also features Gotham as "The Wife" to Selina's "Other Woman," which made me feel like laughing and crying at once. Oh, oh, and it has references to Lex Luthor and Metropolis and THE MAN OF STEEL!!! *Cue excited squeals* Seriously, I run through so many different emotions when reading this. Please, please, please read it, so you too can understand my joy.
Excerpt:
Anyway, somehow, someway, Bruce has infected her with his need to help - not just people (she’s always done that, in her own way), but now she’s thinking about the bigger picture, the big fish and the grand schemes. And she’s always rolled her eyes at that sort of thing, before. Blood and art and crime, the screams and the stench, the absolute lack of mercy - that’s reality, the immediate one she grew up in. She’s killed people, only people that deserved it, and even if he doesn’t like it, Bruce still knows about it and sticks around, so it’s not like she’s the only one compromising, bending to each other rather than breaking apart.
It’s still a work in progress.
Besides, soon enough she realizes that she only has to stop looking at the compromises and start looking at their actions to see how Bruce and her work so damn well together. An undeniable force. She thinks, he strategizes, she deflects, he pursues, she anticipates and he moves. Selina has never been the type to prescribe to the idea of love, but clearly there’s a reason they’ve stuck together so easily when all sense and logic dictates they’d be nothing but horrible for each other.