synthneon | · CALL ME OUT (AUTUMN) ·

This was not her Gotham, that much was obvious from the way it had all right angles and very modern architecture. It was like most of the things were in the right place but were just all wrong. Too much steel and concrete and light.

Selena had gotten used to strange, or so she'd thought, but this was toeing over that line where strange became potentially dangerous. And it wasn't exactly like she fit in. High gloss black vinyl and stiletto boots weren't exactly subtle, but then again neither was she.

So maybe this new town was a new opportunity. Hadn't that been what Bruce had said? Something about starting over. Hard to do less than that when you step into a whole new world. The air smelled different here, felt different even. There was a heavier note to it less.... whimsical maybe? Whatever it was it made her pay sharper attention to the world around her.

Fortunately, it was still Gotham, if the strange familiarity of it hadn't given it away every sign and newspaper stand did. The name was displayed everywhere. Selena walked over to look at a newspaper vending machine and checked the date, shocked at what it read. A stray ambled up beside her and rubbed at her calf. "Hello Kitty, looks like I'm not in Kansas anymore."

She scratched behind the cat's ears and received a soft pleasant purr before a car screeched around the corner nearest her. Gunfire erupted from the side window spraying backward at whoever might be behind it. Selena grabbed the cat and rolled them to the safety of the alley where she gave it a quick check and pat. "Stay here darling, the Cat needs to hunt."

She darted back out of the alley and charged off in chase of the car that had indiscriminately fired on anything in its way. She knew the streets and by taking a quick right she headed north enough to come out ahead of the driver on their narrow one-way street. With a grunt she shover a garbage bin in the path of the vehicle. The driver was caught by surprise, swerved, and ran into a fire hydrant.

Selena skipped over, avoiding the spouting water, and reached through the open window to slice at one of the armed thugs. "You should never try to kill someone you don't know, especially if you haven't even bought me dinner first."

The Bat was familiar with the Cat's movements. They were different, but they still appeared to be similar to the ones that he was aware. If he hadn't met aliens and fought against otherworldly beings the concept of an alternate to Catwoman would have been something of mockery. That wasn't the case, and as long as they could work around or with one another?

He slipped in through another window while she had them distracted. A flick of his wrist and Batarangs came forward. They sailed through the air to knock the guns out of their hands. It left them open for her to attack as she would. For now he was more than content watching how she fought and finding ways to work with it. There was no need for her to be his enemy.

The Bat whirled around to punch the man that snuck up behind them. The goon stumbled backwards, dropping his gun to the floor.

Sharp enough to catch the motion and the symbol a wide and fierce grin broke across her face. She lunged at the passenger unarmed now as he was and grabbed him by the collar with one hand, yanking the door open with the other to spill him onto the street. Her movements were quick and precise, a boot to his temple sent the man off to a deep sleep without killing him.

She crouched as the driver panicked and scrambled with numb fingers to grab his weapon again. She grabbed the door frame and the roof and swung a kick into the car that sent him into the window beside him. A spiderweb of fractured glass radiated out from the impact but only a little blood. Another one down but not dead, she was pretty sure.

Selena extracted herself and hopped up to the roof of the car, to perch there on the balls of her feet and both hands looking into the shadows for the bat benefactor that held watch over the city. It didn't take her long to spot him, feline curl to her lips until she realized the outline was all wrong. Too broad, too...boxy.

She jumped down and click lacked her way over to him eyes narrowed in observation and wariness. "New town, new bat." She murmured. "Pity, I was just getting to like the old one."

"I can't say this is unusual."

The fact was that aliens existed. Amazonians, Atlanteans, Metahumans. The concept of reality slipping and another version of himself, or even someone he knew, was hardly as mind bending as it would have been a few years ago. His mind sometimes struggled to remind itself that this was all reality now and again. That hardly meant that reality wasn't what it was.

A younger Catwoman. It brought back certain memories better left tucked away.

"The man inside the car--he's not dead, is he?"

"Unusual isn't what it used to be."

He might be taking this all in stride but she was looking over him so critically. That jawline was something else, and the suit looked like armor more than a symbol. Much like Gotham, the man was more utilitarian in appearance. This place was not her Gotham but he fit in just fine.

Older, more gruff and grizzled than the man she knew but as soon as he asked the question she had to laugh at his similarity.

"No, I toy with my prey a while first."

"You shouldn't prey them at all." The Bat gives a frown of disapproval -- perhaps one she is used to. Regardless, he takes those last few strides over towards the car and looks inside it. "You're new in town, aren't you? My town. This Gotham."

"Please, these guys hurt people. Innocent people. If anyone deserves it it's them." Give her that look all you want, she's still not cowering.

"I get the feeling I'm old and all of this is new. My Gotham doesn't look like this at all, but I still knew where I was." Weird right?

[ Haylie's never left New York in her 32 years on this Earth, but when the Sentinels came and destroyed the Mansion it forced the X-Men who weren't captured underground. Because her mutation could be hidden rather easily, Callisto and the Morlocks wouldn't give her shelter but did agree to ferry her out of state to someplace that even General Trask's anti-mutant special ops contractors wouldn't dare to look.

After all, Gotham City has its own share of problems and what mutant would be caught dead there? Haylie wanted the team to stay together, or at least keep the children together under their protection but Charles was right. It would be safer for everyone to split up and cut contact so that if anyone was captured, no one could give away any of the others' locations.

It's been a hard six months in Gotham. Spending every hour looking over her shoulder while trying to covertly discharge enough energy to keep herself from overloading isn't easy. The longer she's away from Charles, the harder it is to keep her powers in check and she can feel the psychic blocks on her power weakening over time. The guilt, pain, and rage she feels at losing her home and her family only makes controlling her powers more difficult.

Haylie can't quite feel Charles in her head at all lately and she's getting scared of what that could mean. She's busy calling out for him through what little psychic foothold remains when she rounds the corner into an alleyway where Batman is being ambushed by half a dozen men with various weapons. He could use the help but if she uses her powers without her suit or her mask she risks being outed and potentially turned over to the General.

Fortunately, it's dark and the rain is coming down heavily. She wraps her scarf around her head to cover her hair and mouth and sprints toward the ambush, jumping off of a dumpster and flipping mid-air. With a flick of her wrists, palms out, an invisible wave of energy shoots out from her hands like the aftershock of an explosion, sending all six men flying back several yards onto the sidewalk and into the street by the time she lands in front of Batman in a crouch. ]

[ Unfortunately for Haylie, Bruce has been working on a team. A team that he can put together to fight what is inevitably coming now that Superman is dead. The Bat has been keeping tabs on Haylie and her activities. Though, he has to admit, he hadn't expected to meet her in an alleyway during an ambush. He had hoped to meet her as Bruce Wayne and extend the offer that way... but maybe this is better.

The Bat turns to her, over six feet tall, looming slightly. His cape hangs off his shoulders. ]

You're quick on your feet... and your powers. Most people with them usually try to hide their identity more.

Edited 2022-01-01 07:10 (UTC)

What can I say? Lots of gymnastics. [ Haylie adjusts the scarf around her face in response to his comment so that only her eyes are visible and she takes a few cautious steps back from the Bat. Haylie's not a tiny woman by any means - 5'10" with a muscular gymnast's body - but getting this close to Batman is still a bit unsettling. She's supposed to be in hiding but then again when someone needs help she can't very well sit on the sidelines and do nothing.

Thankfully, it's night time and raining heavily. That should help with her cover a little more than not. ] Well, you looked like you could use a hand. And with my muta-- powers, there's only so much I can do to conceal it anymore.

[ Haylie hasn't really seen much reason to suspect that Batman would have anything to do with General Trask's mutant manhunt but with her name on the list of the Top 10 Most Wanted Mutants... she has to be careful. It's not like she has anyone to trust anymore. ]

You have this handled from here, so I'll leave you to it.

Hm.

[ A note to make even if he's not entirely sure it's just gymnastics. His hand lifts then to hit the man that tries to jump him. The thug stumbles back and clutches his nose, hitting the ground rather hard. The Bat glances back at him before turning his attention to the woman in front of him.

Definitely someone who is used to holding her own. ]

Powers like that are dangerous seen in public right now. Walking out of here is going to give them your face and what you can do.

[ Haylie's fingers clench and release as she looks around to make sure that no one gets close enough to jump her or get a gun pointed at either one of them.

Her green eyes - almost glowing in the moonlight - flick up to meet his and she appears to weigh her options. ] You have no idea exactly how dangerous it is to be me right now, Batman. What exactly would you suggest?

I have an idea of certain things. Maybe you can enlighten me on the rest.

[ He looks over the defeated ambushes with a small frown. There's no real safe options for anyone anywhere at the moment. Even hiding in a hole can't guarantee it if the right people know things. His gaze eventually shifts back to Haylie. ]

Staying out of public as much as possible. Depending on the trouble you're in? Fake IDs to hide who you are in the mean time. Gotham isn't the wisest place to chose to stay low.

Edited 2022-01-27 22:18 (UTC)

We get out of here, maybe I'll let you enlighten me on what you think you know, go from there.

[ There's no such thing as safe anymore. Everything is a numbers game and statistically? Gotham is actually a pretty good bet in terms of places Trask isn't too likely to focus on. ] I've already taken care of those things. And under the present circumstances, Gotham is practically my only option.

[ Haylie hears sirens in the distance and what might be a helicopter - likely just a news chopper - and her entire body tenses. She glances back at the mouth of the alleyway, then Batman and then at the wall of the building behind him - where she spots a fire escape that she could easily reach with her jump height, trying to weigh her options. The police might not even be coming to the alley but she's obviously spooked and getting ready to bolt. ]

[ A grunt comes from him at the comment. There are things bigger than the small events going on in Gotham. But, to the people of Earth? The small problems are large to the people. What Haylie faces is her entire world--not the cosmos that comes baring down on him. It's good to remember that, perhaps the more powered members of the team he is trying to construct may not. ]

Gotham is a better home than having no home. Just not the first pick to trying to hide in. Too many criminal organizations that know the ins and outs if you catch their eyes.

[ His gaze moves upwards to the helicopter above. He turns then, starting toward the back of the alleyway. He pulls out his launcher, looking back at her. ]

I'm assuming you don't need a ride up.

[ Batman might not be aware of the so-called mutant problem but it's sure as shit real enough - and right now what she fears most is what she's presently hiding from in Gotham. Logan went with Charles so at least he's safe enough - the Wolverine has spent his life off the grid. Charles Xavier is at the very top of the list due to his psychic powers and the one person in the world who knows where she is at all times. If they get him, it's all over.

The thought makes her shiver in the rain until she hears the click of a tool and glances his way. ] Need? No. But if you're offerin' I'll take one.

[ Is this a good idea? Maybe not, but she's low on options and Batman's reaction to her powers tells her that he might actually be on her side. Or at least not her enemy. ]

[ A low grumble is in his tone, before a hand raises to motion her over. ]

It might be a rough ride up. I don't usually carry more than one of me no w.

[ The Batman moves his hand around her waist simply to hold onto her. The launcher flares to life, and in a brief second, they are both on their way up. He braces himself for both their weight at the top, knees bending, until she has a footing and he can let go of her. ]

Hopefully flying doesn't make you uneasy.

[ Haylie just snorts a bit at the comment about a rough ride up, adjusting the scarf so that it can remain functional in the way that it's obscuring most of her face - save for the almost gem-like green eyes that seem to almost glow in the moonlight.

There's a slight wince - reflex, really - at the contact and she's quick to brush it off, opting to drape an arm around the Bat's shoulders for stability. Built like a tank, yet fragile to the slightest touch, as if it's her cross to bear in atonement for the destructive power she's been given. Or maybe she spent a little too much time in church growing up. Six of one... ]

I don't think I'd consider this flyin', because I've done that and it's a little terrifying in its own special way. Real angel of a guy. [ Was that a pun? Only to the other X-Men because Warren's codename was not only Angel, but the man had giant fluffy wings like they talk about in movies. He could be an arrogant, rich prick at times but she'd give anything for one more late-night flight over the mansion that ended with him nearly getting his wings blown off for grabbing her in the first place...

No time for that sort of longing. She lands with him easily on the roof, putting some distance between them as soon as she's steady. This is the part where she's supposed to take off and disappear back into the shadows, yet she's still standing there. ] Thanks for the lift.

[ The shyness to touch is noted, but never once brought to attention. The Bat's gaze remains on her for only a moment before moving further onto the roof. He holds his fingers to his helmet. ]

Alfred.

I thought you might never ask.

[ He turns to look back at the woman as the distant humming of engines can be heard. ]

I didn't mean with wings. [ The cape blows in the wind as the sound grows closer. There is the barest hint of a smile at the fact he can still surprise people. ] I can drop you off somewhere you find safe.

[ A moment longer and the Batwing appears from the clouds. The cockpit opens and the Batman gestures to the plane. Of course, it is up to her and he won't push, but it is clear he thinks this is the better option. Especially since sirens can be heard in the distance. Someone somewhere called the police in. ]

Right. Of course. Because people don't have wings and I'm not friends with Superman...

[ There's a slight look of embarrassment when she hears the whirring of the Batwing and for a moment she's silent - a bit awestruck at seeing it up close and personal and she's actually impressed. ]

It's a little small. [ She's not trying to be an asshole or anything as she approaches the cockpit and takes a look inside. It's just a lot different than the X-Jet which is another painful memory she didn't ask for. ]

Nowhere is safe anymore. Just drop me off wherever. [ The words are said quietly, as monotone as she can manage. She's got an identity to protect and no place to call home. Her exploration of the underground sewer system hasn't produced any evidence that Morlocks are hiding in Gotham City. An icy revelation that she really is alone here, the only one of her kind to make it this far. ]

[ A smirk touches his face briefly at his comment. Friends with Superman. He wouldn't count himself as a friend, but, most likely the Kryptonian would. He half-turns when the cockpit opens and gestures for her to step inside. He then slides into the driver seat. ]

I don't have a reason for a bigger one. [ There's a glance at her. ] You don't have somewhere you stay?

[ The Batwing then lifts into the air and the Batman takes the controls. Alfred, of course, is on standby and listening into the conversation as always. ]

[ Haylie is a bit taken back by the brief smirk on the Bat's lips and can't help feeling a little proud of herself for that.

Emerald green eyes catch his when he glances over at her and then dart away just as quickly as the glance itself, her gloved hands wringing a little in her lap. ]

Nowhere specific. I move around a lot.

[ He nods to her statement. Smart, given her situation.

The Batwing rises into the clouds. The plane turns. ]

Alfred, find accommodations for Gotham's guest. One where she can lay low.

Are you sure of that, sir? [ A British voice comes through the comms then. ] Oh, of course you are. Well, do you have a preference in place, Miss...?

[ She hesitates for a moment, eyeing the controls before responding. ]

Just call me Spitfire. And no, no preference. I don't tend to get too comfortable in one spot anymore.

( pretend these are batman icons hahA )

menarebrave - 2022-07-10 02:31 (UTC) - Expand

forever late to this party, feel free to ignore ;;

notouchpolicy - 2023-02-07 01:17 (UTC) - Expand

· CALL ME OUT (AUTUMN) ·

🎃 AUTUMN

🦇 bruce wayne/batman | dceu+zsjl

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psl maybe? idk.

ROLLS IN A MONTH LATER (hella short im SO SORRY)

I WILL BACKTAG FOREVER (pfft no apologies needed!)

;~; okay getting better at the tag turn arounds!

Oh gosh never worry about turnaround time!! Seriously. It's okay i promise.

continues late with starbucks >:(

starbucks is liiiiiife - also no time limit so technically never late ;-*

50000 YEARS LATER HELLO <3

HENLO FREN! :D:D:D

OKAY SO, A BIT BETTER... its not two months this time!

no worries at all! <3 i have the slowness now.

rolls here!!

rolls back in here after forever!

a lovely beautiful slow RP and thats OKAY

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( pretend these are batman icons hahA )

forever late to this party, feel free to ignore ;;