Chapter Text
“You really think they’ll come back for the sword?” Dana asked, leaning against the console.
“Maybe. But they’ll be sticking around Gotham for a while.” Bruce replied.
“They’re willing to put up with lil ol’ me to line their pockets?” she asked. You’d think some criminals would be smart enough to abandon ship in favor of greener lands.
“Like I said, we’ve got history, they and I. If I’m not wrong, the King you fought with last night was the previous Jack from my days.” Bruce replied.
Typing on the Batcomputer, he brought up a series of files, all of them depicting the numerous versions of the Royal Flush Gang that’s appeared over the years. Though most were obviously familial, she noticed two groups that stood out from the rest.
“Who’re they?” she asked, pointing at a group that looked like common thugs, none of them bearing any family resemblance whatsoever.
Her eyes were drawn to the youngest member- a solemn girl with short black hair. Though it was only a picture, her eyes were piercing, with the kind of intensity that stares into your soul.
“Nothing to concern yourself with anymore.” Bruce said, closing that file and Dana recognized his classic ‘I don’t wanna talk about it’ tone.
“You can either hit the VR room for training or look over these files. They might strike again tonight so be on your guard.” He said.
“You got it, boss.” She said, going to change.
Coming out in the Batsuit, she paused on her way to the VR room. Glancing over her shoulder, she saw Bruce staring at the girl melancholically. He looked....regretful. There was a weight on his shoulders that had nothing to do with the hunch of old age.
Decision made, she sat down and started to comb through the files.
“Tonight’s target is the ‘Queen’s Heart’ sculpture.” Selina announced, showing Terry the picture on the screen.
Terry leaned forward in rapt attention. It was a glass sculpture of a veiled woman cradling a ruby heart. Ruby rhinestones glistened underneath her eyes, resembling bloody tears.
“Didn’t know you were into romance.” Terry mused.
“I’m not, but our client is.” She revealed.
Terry raised a brow. “I thought strays didn’t work for anyone?”
“Doesn’t mean we can’t help them.” Selina chided.
“What does- oh.....” Terry realized. “This doesn’t belong to the dreg who has it, does it?”
“No, it doesn’t.” Selina said coldly. “This sculpture was carved by Argyris Levion, a renowned sculptor in the 1900s. For years afterwards, it was a family heirloom until it went missing during a robbery.”
“Only to show up behind a shiny display case in Mr. Lykaios’s private collection.” Terry hummed.
“The Lykaios’ are old money from Italy. The former head was well-known as a collector for glass artwork. What was less well-known is his ties to the mob and the smuggling of illegal artifacts from third-world countries.” Selina explained.
“So, you just want me to nab the sculpture or do you want me to do a little more? Scratch some things, find some dirt, maybe smash one of his collections over his head? Not necessarily in that order.” Terry half-joked.
“Baby steps, kitten.” Selina smirked. “For now, focus on nabbing the sculpture.”
“You got it, boss.” Terry said, already rising to get ready for tonight’s heist.
Only for a manicured finger to be held up in front of their face.
“Now now, who said I was finished talking?” Selina tutted.
“Sorry.” Terry muttered, flustered at their own impatience.
“I just wanted to give you a warning. You heard of the new group back in town?” she asked.
“The Royal Cards Gang?” Terry frowned, recalling the news covering them.
“Royal Flush Gang.” Selina corrected before her face turned grim. “Be on your guard. They call themselves the ‘aristocrats of crime’, seeing themselves above the common thief.”
“Funny, Catwoman was on the same level too, wasn’t she?” Terry pointed out.
“Catwoman was, back in her heyday, and I don’t think they’ll appreciate the comparison, even if they’re too snobbish to admit it.” Selina snorted.
“Don’t worry, boss. So long as they don’t corner this cat, I won’t scratch.” Terry reassured.
They felt the familiar thrum of adrenaline humming under their skin as they pulled on their suit. Giddiness at stirring chaos and vindictiveness knowing they were dishing it out to someone who deserved it flooded their veins in equal amounts.
And well....if they were eager for the job to take their mind off recent things, that was for them to know.
It was so effortless for Stray to slip in that it was laughable. Really, being old money in Gotham was near-suicide but even more so for old money that wasn’t native to Neo-Gotham and her dangers.
Dropping from the vent, they landed soundlessly. They looked around the room, the wall window allowing what little outside light to seep through. Peeking out the door, they spotted no guards and smoothly headed towards their destination.
Decoding the number panel, they entered a gallery where numerous glass artwork was displayed on sleek shelves against the walls. There were other raised daises and pedestals showcasing sculptures, all of them arranged to perfectly show off their proportions. However, their target was on a pedestal in the very center of a room.
Activating their visor, they surveyed the laser grid surrounding the sculpture and plotted accordingly.
Stray inhaled deeply, relaxing their body so their mind can recall their lessons. They scrutinized the laser grid layout one more time before crouching in position.
A flip here, a twist there, a pause to slowly drop into a split, a careful slide underneath and voila! They were in front of their prize.
(Sometimes, their own improved flexibility still surprises them.)
Even in the darkness of the room, the glass sculpture almost seemed to posses a crystal-like glow not unlike what they see in Matt’s fantasy vid games. Using their claws to pry off a hidden panel on the pedestal, they cut the wires to disable the alarms.
Confident with their work, they slipped the panel back on and stood up to grab the sculpture.
‘Easy come, easy go.’ They smirked, easy come, easy go-
“Kit, you’ve got company!” Selina warned, just as they made to take the casing off.
Crap.
“Where?” Stray asked, their cat ears unable to detect the sound of any footsteps.
“Display room 2.” Selina cursed. “Looks like their majesties decided to pay a visit tonight.”
Okay, so easy come, not so easy go after all.
It wasn’t Ten’s fault this time. Really, it wasn’t. Sometimes, no matter how much you plan for a heist, an unexpected variable just happens.
It could be that one guard who chose to go to the toilet at the wrong time. It could be a janitor that’s decided to work a little harder. Really, it’s a long list of strangers simply being at the wrong place at the wrong time.
Tonight, it was Mr. Lykaios’s mistress who decided to snoop around his private collection (gold-digger, probably) just as they were bagging the goods.
She managed to scream before Queen stunned her with her scepter. But one scream was all it took to alert the guards.
Still, they would have to move and it would take time. More often than not, they were slow to react, meaning more time for them to act first.
“In here!” King said, guiding them into a different room filled with more artwork.
A common thief would say it was a dumb idea. After all, there was barely any cover in there, they’d be exposed!
A better one would recognize that so were the goods, meaning the fragile valuables were more vulnerable than ever.
This means the guards would have to be more careful. It meant they couldn’t be as trigger happy as they would’ve liked, lest they lose what little pay they get on collateral damage. It meant they would hesitate and that hesitation was their window of opportunity.
A fight broke out. Ace easily took care of most of the guards; the few foolish enough to shoot their guns barely scratching his armor. Those smart enough to ignore Ace and targeted his human allies learned too late that they were no less dangerous.
King smirked, holding up the Queen’s Heart and admiring its craftmanship-
Only for a weight to land on his shoulders, snatch the sculpture out of his grip and use his back as a springboard to flip away.
“Scuse me, your majesty!” a voice dripping with youthful impertinence chirped.
Growling, he glared at the unwelcomed thief who had the gall to snatch his prize from him.
Devious black cherry lips quirked into a cocky smirk, the pointy ears sticking out from their locks were a dead-ringer to their identity.
“So, you’re the mangy stray this city can’t put down.” King said, eyes narrowed at their unaccounted appearance.
“And you’re the new gang with a shtick as tacky as the Jokerz.” They snarked.
King tsked. “Really, what are they touching the children these days?” he bemoaned theatrically before taking out a card.
Stray nimbly dodged the explosive projectile and soon had to worry about the guards charging at them. None of them cared that Stray wasn’t affiliated with the Royal Flush Gang; they were all intruders plain and simple.
Briefly, Ten glanced over and did a double-take when she spotted Stray. She’s heard of them but up close, she didn’t think they’d look so young. Hell, they couldn’t be older than her and Jack.
Suddenly, Stray turned towards her, whip darting out-
She felt the length of it flick past her ear, a hair’s breath from nicking it. Instead, it yanked the gun out of a guard’s hand (sloppy, how could she let him sneak up on her?). He stumbled forward, arm still outstretched and she grabbed it, tossing him over her shoulder.
“You’re welcome!” Stray chirped before running off, gun in hand.
“Kit, get out of there, now!” Selina screamed at them over the comms.
“Way ahead of you!” They said, abandoning all pretense of stealth as they dashed down the hallway.
Soon, they were back in the room with the wall window. Cocking the gun, they pulled the trigger, unleashing a volley of shots that shattered the glass.
“Freeze!” “Hands where we can see em’!” they heard the guards order from behind.
Stray was already jumping out of the window before they fired the first shot.
Terry watched from the car as Selina walked out to meet Aaron Levi, the last of the Levi bloodline. Though time had not been kind to the man’s body, they saw it came alive the moment the Queen’s Heart was in his wrinkled hands once more.
“Gracias....gracias!” he cried, cradling the sculpture like a newborn baby.
“No thanks needed, Mr. Levi. May your wife rest in peace and may you live well.” Selina said warmly.
Aaron Levi nodded, hugging Selina tightly before his caretaker guided him back to his own car.
Selina gracefully entered the car, clicking her seatbelt in place.
“I could sense your curiosity from all the way outside, kit.” Selina said.
“This wasn’t just about getting back at the Lykaios, was it?” they asked at last.
“Mr. Levi entrusted the Queen’s Heart to his wife when he was away on a family visit. As a result, she was there when the robbery happened. Mr. Levi lost his family heirloom and wife in one swoop.” Selina revealed.
“Oh.” Terry breathed.
“His wife saw the sculpture in a way no one else could, it’s what made him fall for her. The Queen’s Heart wasn’t just a family heirloom, it became a token of the love and trust they had in each other.” She said softly.
Terry’s hand tightened around the steering wheel. Love and trust, huh.........
They drove Selina home and as she brewed tea for herself, Terry entertained the cats that were occupying the room.
“.........so, you gonna do this old cat a favor and satisfy her curiosity now?” Selina asked after a moment of silent tea drinking.
Terry looked up from the ginger tom they were petting. “What do you wanna know?” they asked.
“Whatever’s troubling you- and don’t try to lie to me, kit. Something’s eating at you.” She said.
Terry cringed. Selina acted like a content cat but her mind was as sharp as a panther’s.
“......I broke up with Dana.” They admitted.
Selina’s brows raised but she said nothing, patiently waiting for them to continue.
And so, they told her everything- how both of them were keeping secrets, how respecting those secrets came at the cost of trust, how the surge of attacks on Stray increased the chances of anyone close becoming an inevitable target, and every other aspect outside of their control that piled into a weight they couldn’t force themselves and Dana to carry lest it crushes both of them.
Selina placed a sympathetic hand over their shoulder.
“You did the right thing. But I understand if that doesn’t make it any easier to come to terms with.” She said.
“You ever experience this in any one of your nine lives?” Terry asked.
Selina smiled knowingly.
“More than you know, kit. But that’s something I’ll tell you one day after I’ve had a few glasses of wine.” She chuckled.
“You did good work tonight. So, go for a run on the roofs. Have fun, see other people, figure out what you wanna do now.” She waved off.
“Thanks, boss.” Terry said, removing the ginger tom off his lap, much to the feline’s discontentment.
“Remember to use protection!” Selina yelled after them.
She saw them stumble in their gait and she chuckled heartily.
Ah, to be young and struggling with love.......It certainly brings back old memories. She really is getting sentimental in her old age.
Ten caught the card mid-air. Annoyed (and anxious), she glared at her brother.
“Really? UNO?” she drawled.
“You’re the one who threw a fuss when I used the NERF darts.” Jack sniffed. “Now, naughty Melly, where do you think you’re going?”
It was a rhetoric question and he knew it. He had caught her still in costume, one foot propped on top of her hovercard.
“Out, just for a while.” She replied.
“........mom suggested they drink wine to blow off some steam. You know how dad is with alcohol. By tomorrow morning, he’ll probably forget about Stray.” Jack said, casually shuffling the cards in his hand.
(By tomorrow morning, he’ll be less likely to get angry at you, Jack was trying to reassure her.)
“Then I’ll be back before tomorrow morning.” She said. “Look, if they ask, just tell them I’m getting used to the city layout.”
“Good lord, you make it sound as if I’m an amateur.” He rolled his eyes.
“Who’s the one who ruined mom’s favorite dress when he snuck in a goat back in-”
“Hush! We swore to never bring that up!” Jack hissed.
Ten chuckled. “Thanks, Jack.” She said.
“Oh, the things your brother does for you....” his exasperated sigh contradicted the fond twitch of his lip.
Reassured she had someone in her corner, she boarded her card and flew off into what’s left of the night.
Stray sighed, laying their head on top of intertwined fingers.
They were on their favorite rooftop, one they oftentimes found themselves lounging on whenever they were out with time to spare. It even had a rooftop deck on one side, providing perfect shade should it ever choose to rain.
If they turn one way, they can gaze down at the lower levels. They can watch as the veins of bridges and roads that ran through the districts quiet down until it settled into an ambience only a Neo-Gothamite could truly appreciate.
If they turn the other way, they’ll see the two billboards; the bigger one advertising products and newscast; the other advertising food that only looked good on screen but not in real life. They’ll see the bright lights and neon signs, the colors explosive against this city’s perennial grimness.
Their eye snapped open behind the visor when they picked up the subtle whir of something in the air, the kind you’d hear on hoverbikes custom modified to be able to approach unnoticed.
They slipped under the shed and watched from the shadows as a half-black half-white feminine figure dismounted from a flying card.
They perked up, easily recalling where they last saw someone in that kind of get-up. If the number on her chest is any indication, she’s Ten.
Stray warily watched as she sat down on the edge of the roof and just....stayed there. Checking their surroundings, they realized Ten was here alone.
Now that she wasn’t surrounded by her family and the rush of crime, it struck Stray how young she looked- how lonely she seemed, sitting there alone at such a late hour.
Their curiosity was piqued.
And well, you know what they say about cats and curiosity.......
Resolve set, they plastered their friendliest smile and stepped out of the shadows.