Chapter Text
Although riddled with the cries of the innocent and the laughter of the damned, Gotham, at the very least, had one positive thing going for it.
Its’ consistency with the weather.
You could always count for rain in this freak show of a city. You could practically bet on it any day of the week and you’d find yourself the forecast lottery winner. The cold rain, which only added onto Gotham’s melancholic atmosphere, was both a blessing and a curse at times.
Call it some sort of irony that the world's most crime-infested city always saw rain. Perhaps, in some demented way, the rain was some sort of holy blessing. Maybe it was some gods' attempt at washing off the horrid sins and crimes committed here; some sort of fruitless blessing. A blessing most Gotham residents scoff at as they pull out their foldable umbrellas from their bags before they scamper away like the rats in the underground subways; to commit more sins that must be washed away by the rain someday. But to you, young naive you, the rain was a nuisance for your work.
The rain clogged the drains, which meant it flooded the streets. Flooded streets meant slightly harder ways of maneuvering the concrete roads. Selina Kyle, who was dressed in a gorgeous dress, had been unfortunately ambushed by the sudden rain tonight. Scoffing, she attempted to pick up speed by awkwardly half-jogging half-walking.
The woman clutched her handbag over her head as it shielded her face from the water. Ever vigilant, she kept her vibrant green eyes towards the streets. Selina Kyle was no fool. Gotham streets were plagued by a virus of petty criminals and full blown villains. She would know, she was technically one of those criminals.
Nonetheless, it was supposed to be a short trip out. The cat-burglar merely needed to collect a dead-drop for a job that had been mentioned to her once or twice during that month. She, of course, wished to dress up for it. After all, a woman deserves to feel beautiful whenever she goes out, especially when said women didn’t go out in public too often. Plus she had a rather nice shiny new toy she desperately wished to show off.
It was a beautiful diamond jewelry set.. A necklace which she had actually paid for as the money the necklace cost was meant to go towards a charity. Unfortunately the rest of the set didn’t come with the same deal. Call it a capitalistic choice. She understood why the set was sold like that. You were meant to buy the necklace to feel good about your actions and then when you went to go buy the rest of the set, the company made profit. It was the way the rich eased their conscience.
Of course, there was nothing the five finger discount didn’t cover. By the end of that night. Selina had left that snooty jewelry store knowing a slim amount of her money was being sent towards something meaningful and a rather beautiful diamond set that was easier to steal than it should have been.
Unfortunately, in her haste of dressing up with her beautiful new jewelry before she marched out the door, Selina had forgotten her umbrella.
Rolling her eyes at the actions she could have taken to prevent her current situation, the woman stumbles backwards when a sudden force hits her hip.
The force of the hit wasn’t painful. It was more of a forced sort of hurt, almost as if she had been pushed. Falling backwards, Selina tightens her grip on her purse as she attempts to catch herself with her free hand before making full contact with the ground. Instead, she’s practically shoved onto the wet earth by a small girl who, much like herself, also stumbles down.
Selina narrows her emerald eyes as the girl before her wraps her arms around her neck in a last minute attempt to break her own fall. Her green eyes rake over her form before concluding that this girl was a child. Why would a child be out in the streets of Gotham? Especially at this hour?
Although a criminal, Selina had an altruistic streak. Allowing the girl to catch her breath for a moment, Selina breaks the silence.
“Are you alright?” she asks, her voice soft. When silence greets her ears, Selina purses her crimson painted lips. Maybe this child was scared? Unmoving from her rather uncomfortable position, Selina offers a small smile before asking another question.
“Do you have a name girlie?”
A moment of silence passes. For a second, Selina was worried the child wouldn’t start speaking. If that was the case, she would have immediately begun to panic more than she would like to admit. A silent child was a strange child. Children were usually chatty, like birds who wouldn’t stop chirping. Only horrid things could cause a young child muteness unless it was a medical reason. But a medical reason also brought concern. That was something she’d unfortunately learnt in her short days in an orphanage long ago…. Thankfully, the silence was broken after a beat; much to Selina’s relief.
The girl responds with her name softly. Her arms are still wrapped around Selina’s neck, but she could feel them moving. Swiftly, the child picks herself up, hiding her arms behind her back as she stands up.
Selina carefully watches her actions as she too slowly stands up as well. A gentle breeze sends some rain drops towards her face and bare neck. Of course, her brain doesn’t fully recognize the missing necklace. Instead, it’s much more focused on the young girl before her.
She wore some tattered jeans. They seemed too small for her by the way they reached her shins instead of the bottom of her legs.. Her top, which was a wooly cardigan, knitted with an intricate pattern that was sadly broken up by holes of varying sizes. Her feet were clad in some beat up sketchers. Selina’s eyes narrowed at the sight. This child was clearly not being treated correctly. A parent, at least a decent one wouldn’t let a small girl go out looking like this in the rain. In fact, any parent wouldn’t let their child out in the Gotham dark.
Her green eyes met the shorter girl's own eyes. “Are your parents here?” Selina asks carefully. If her parents were here she’d make sure to accompany the young girl over to them. One could never be too careful in Gotham. Another beat of silence passes before it’s broken once more.
“…Yes. They are over there.”
Taking a hand from behind her back, the young girl points towards a 24hr diner that was across the street. Coincidentally, it was where Selina herself had been previously when she came to collect the dead-drop. The diner's neon red lights lit up every corner of the street from where it stood. Simply because of the light that it shed, the diner was one of the safer places in this section of Gotham.
Crossing her arms, Selina Kyle nods slowly, a faint smile upon her face. “Run along now then. I’m sure your family is waiting for you.” Almost as if her words were used as permission to leave this current conversation, the girl simply nods in understanding before taking off in a light jog.
What a strange kid.
Dusting her dress off with her free hand, Selina takes this moment to scowl. The rain hadn’t let up, in fact, it almost appeared to have gotten worse. During that small interaction she had with the strange kid, she had willingly gotten more drenched. The woman’s heart clenched slightly at the reminder of the child. She was probably just as drenched as well. Selina could only hope she got back to her parents in the diner where she would most definitely be safe from the Gotham rain.
Huffing slightly, Selina sighs in defeat. The rain had already soaked her short hair thoroughly, there was no saving it unfortunately. Defeated, she slides her purse strap over her arm. Like the cats she adored, Selina too wasn’t fond of the rain. She could only imagine what the water was doing to her precious gemstones.
Automatically, she brings up a manicured hand up towards her neck. Expecting to feel the familiar coolness the diamonds of her necklace bring to her touch, Selina’s blood runs cold when all she feels is her own soft flesh underneath her fingertips.
Eyebrows furrowing, she frowns as it all slowly dawns upon her. How could she have been so blind?! Stolen from right under her nose. And there was clearly only one culprit.
The child…
That child must’ve snatched her necklace when she was on her. It didn’t take the world's greatest detective to figure that one out, after all, she had her arms around Selina’s neck for quite some time. Nonetheless, there was no denying the fact that she, or more accurately her empathy was played like a fiddle.
Using her genuine worry, you had thrown Selina off your true intentions long enough to steal. It was simple, smart, and practical. Eerily enough, it was very reminiscent of Selina’s younger years. Days when she too hit the streets of Gotham as an orphaned child who needed to steal to survive.
Turning sharply on her heel, Selina narrows her eyes. She glanced over the streets of Gotham. The thief knew she had a short period of time to get her beloved jewelry back. She could ponder why you had taken it at a later time. For now, her priority was getting her property back. Emerald eyes glazing over the crowd, it takes a moment before they land on the familiar mop of messy hair.
You were walking slowly, almost casually. Your back was facing Selina; she only recognized you by your hair and top. But something was becoming apparent the more you walked. You definitely weren’t heading towards the previously mentioned diner. A fact made obvious as you glanced at its windows yet kept walking.
Without a moment of hesitation, Selina took off in a brisk speed walk. If it had been anyone else in her position, the slapping of her heels hitting pavement would have alerted you early and promptly sent you running into the streets in an attempt to lose your poor victim. But Selina Kyle wasn’t any normal victim. Unknowingly, you had just messed with the best burglar in Gotham and she wanted her property back.
With a small smile, you mentally began to calculate how much you could get by pawning the necklace off. It’d be enough to pay off the group who kept harassing you down the bridge where you had decided to settle. It’d definitely be enough to cover food for a few days as well. You couldn’t help but grin further the more you imagined.
If the necklace gave you enough leftover money, then maybe, just maybe, you had enough for a cheesecake down by the diner! You hadn’t had one in almost two years. The thought of the sweet treat practically had your mouth watering. Unfortunately, your thoughts were interrupted by a gentle tapping on your right shoulder.
Out of paranoia, you bring a hand up to feel around your back pocket. Thankfully the necklace was still there. The jewelry was your ticket to safety and a few meals this week. You can’t lose it. Under any circumstances. Turning slowly, you gaze up to whoever tapped your shoulder.
Your eyes meet cold familiar emerald eyes. Shit.
“I believe you have something of mine dear?”
Her statement rings out with an authoritative tone. One that left no questions to be made. There was no weaseling your way out of this.
Frantically, you look around for some way of escape. You couldn’t scream and grab attention. Someone may help you escape from the woman you stole from, but there was no guessing what’d happen to you after. A child of your age would definitely be sent back into the foster system after they found out about your lack of parentage. It had been quite the hassle to escape from your last orphanage too…. You couldn’t kiss all your progress goodbye. You stubbornly refused to.
Instead, you look for another option. You could run couldn’t you? You were almost one hundred percent sure a woman in high heels couldn’t keep up with you if you sprinted. Annoying enough, that would also bring unnecessary attention to you. It seemed like your only option was running onto the street which seemed like a bad idea in itself. Running onto the streets would leave only two results. You escape! Or, you become human roadkill. You heavily doubted lady luck would be in your favor seeing as most of these cars didn’t care for driving within the speed limit…
Reluctantly you sigh as you lower your head. Slowly, you bring out the necklace from your back pocket before wordlessly offering it out to her.
Selina Kyle gently takes it back with a quiet thank you. Slowly she begins to clip the necklace back onto her neck. Her green eyes meet your downcasted form, “So, those parents aren’t waiting for you in that diner are they?”
Shaking your head dismissively, Selina hums at your response before continuing gently. “Where are they then?”
“…Gotham Cemetery.” You whisper back. Your eyes glossed over with melancholy. Although their passing has been over two years ago, you still visibly deflated at the thought of it. Instantly, Selina’s face softens in response. As it turns out, you were much more similar to her than she initially thought. Uncaring of the water that kept falling down onto the two of you, Selina crouches down onto one knee so that she may face you better.
“How about an orphanage? Someone should be waiting for you there, I’m sure of it.” The woman offers you a gentle smile, one meant to act as reassurance but all you manage is a crinkle of your nose and a scoff.
“No, the orphanage is bad… The people are mean. And the conditions are sad.. I’d rather stay here.” You cross your arms and shake your head sourly. The orphanage you had been at was run by a mean man. He treated all the children horridly with his verbal abuse. Some of the older kids would talk about how the man was clearly pocketing most of the tax money the orphanage received into his own private account for his personal needs.
There was a flurry of other rumors there as well. You hadn’t spent enough time at that orphanage to properly remember most of the rumors. All you could remember was hearing that children were supposedly being sold somewhere? This rumor had spooked the living daylights out of you after the girl who shared the bottom bunk of the bunk bed you slept in had gone missing. In fact, it was enough of a reason to make you escape.
Escaping had been simpler said than done. The orphanage was crawling with caretakers who would promptly send you back to your room if you were caught out after hours. You had barely managed to leave when an older teen had offered to take some kids to a park one strangely clear summer day. From then on you had managed to escape when the teens eyes were turned away.
The opportunity of escape you had been given wouldn’t come by again, you were practically sure of it. Clear days in Gotham could be counted on one hand. You refused to go back to that orphanage.
Instantly noticing your reaction at the mention of the orphanage, Selina sighs softly. She too had her fair share of horror stories from her short time at her orphanage. Her eyes wander over your face once more, taking in your youthful features.
A child like you wouldn’t be able to last on these streets for too long. She’s seen firsthand what happens to young girls who live in the streets, and the unfortunate demise they typically meet. Selina thought herself lucky to only have become a thief while living on the streets of Gotham. Instead, she could have been six feet underground with her organs missing. It was a very real possibility for her sometime ago. It was a thought that broke her out in a cold sweat to this day.
Her heart ached for you, but she had no idea how to help you. Clearly giving you money wouldn’t help you out in the long run. Selina knew that money had its limits. You could possibly use it for however long if my last you, but the money could also paint a target on your head.
After all, you weren’t the only person living in these cold Gotham streets. If it was one child who stood between a possible hot meal or some drug, people could, and would stoop to sickening ways to get what they wished.
She pondered ways to help you for a second; then a thought came to her. It was quickly refuted mentally, even if her heart opted for that option. But it seemed her lips had a mind of their own as she spoke out gently once more.
“… If you’d like, you could come stay with me?”
Her words sent your eyebrows furrowing. This woman was a stranger. A stranger you had just stolen from. Why would she offer you a place to stay after all this?
Frantically, you shake your head. “No. I just stole from you. You’re playing with me.” Taking a step back to widen the distance between the two of you, your eyes search her emerald eyes as if they could offer you an answer or a clue to her true intentions.
Selina, in response, gently nods her head. “It’ll be a temporary arrangement. I have connections, I’m sure I can help you out a little….” The woman meets your worried stare before continuing. “As for why I’m helping you…” Selina pauses, pursing her lips before sending you a playful wink.
“ Don’t think you’re the only thief in the world dear.”
Her playful statement is enough to unfurrow your worried brows. Selina doesn’t elaborate further; merely gesturing with her dominant hand towards her diamond earrings. This earnest gesture is enough to calm you. With a slight tilt of your head and a moment to think through her offer, you nod gently in response.
Although this woman was still a stranger, an offer like hers surely beat that space under the bridge you called a home. Besides, you couldn’t find anything harmful when you stared into her green eyes.
Content with your response, Selina offers you a bright smile before offering out her right hand towards you. “Well, it’s a pleasure doing business with you kitten! The names’ Selina Kyle, do remember it.”
Taking her hand into yours, you gently shake it. Selina Kyle… Pretty. Her name is pretty. Selina’s radiant smile and vibrant eyes would be hard to forget. Especially when she was practically a beacon of a second chance to life for you. Perhaps this arrangement would change your life for the better.
Selina carefully wraps her hand around yours so that she may hold it. “Let’s get going shall we?”
You part your lips to give your response, but it seems your stomach beats you to the race as it loudly growls in front of Selina. Instantly, your face flushes several different shades of scarlet in embarrassment. The rain does little to hide your red cheeks from Selina’s calculating eyes. Expecting some sort of mockery from the woman, her laughter instead reaches your ears.
Was she laughing at you? Tilting your head, you stare at Selina’s laughing face in confusion. The older woman is quick to note your confused features, but like her previous statement, she doesn’t elaborate. Instead, Selina merely tugs you by the hand, sending you slightly stumbling into her as she begins to walk towards the previously mentioned diner.
“Scratch that. Let’s get some food first kiddo. How does some cheesecake sound? I’ve heard this diner has a pretty impressive dessert menu.”
The mention of the sweet treat makes you perk up. Hurriedly, you speed up from your slow walk into a brisk speed walk, Selina’s hand still clasped in yours.
Perhaps this arrangement wouldn’t be all that bad….