Dark Knight Rises AU Bunny

TWACK

Selina didn’t have to fake the gasp of shock that escaped her as an arrow buried itself in the target about two inches from her head. Her hand clapped to her mouth to stifle the noise as she whirled around, almost falling over. A skilled thief she may have been, but that didn’t mean she was immune to surprises.

She rather hated them, to tell the truth.

“I’m sorry! Sorry!” The words escaped her as she tried to force her hammering heart to relax. Honestly, this was embarrassing. How had she been snuck up on? She hadn’t known a damn thing was wrong until it was too late. “I’m so terribly sorry, Mr. Wayne.” She swallowed as she stepped forward a little bit, “It…it is Mr. Wayne, isn’t it?” The man had put the bow down and started stepping forward. He did have a cane, though he didn’t appear to actually be using it to walk, she realized. His steps were too sure. She forced a smile, “A-Although you don’t have the… long nails or the,” She let out a little nervous chuckle, “- or the facial scars, sir.”

The man let out a little noise of amusement, “Is that what they say about me?” Confirming he was indeed Bruce Wayne.

“I-it’s just no one ever sees you.” She replied, trying to get her feet back under her. She was Selina Kyle. It would take more than this to keep her rattled. She could still get out of this scott free. He didn’t seem to suspect her at all.

His eyes didn’t dip at all, but he changed the subject towards the item around her neck, “That’s a beautiful necklace.” He said, and Selina immediately started calculating her escape. It wasn’t the first time she’d been seen and found, but it had been years since she had been caught. She wasn’t about to ruin her record. “It reminds me of the one my mother owned.” His lips quirked in a small smile, “It can’t be the same one of course. That one is locked here in my safe.” He used the cane to press a button which opened the cabinet, and then used it to simply open the door, “Which the manufacturer explained was uncrackable.” He turned back to her; his eyes alight in amusement.

That amused her more than it should have. “Oops.” She said simply, a small, smug smile gracing her lips. The jig was up, after all, “No one told me it was uncrackable.”

“Well, they do look better on you than they did in my safe, at least.” Bruce said, making her smile widen a bit, “All the same, I would appreciate them back. You can pick something else if you like.” Damn, was that what ‘billionaire’ really meant? That he wouldn’t lose a wink of sleep about just giving some jewels away?

“You seem oddly unconcerned about being robbed,” She replied, a note of confusion entering her voice. She tilted her head a little, “So why the concern over the pearls? Surely you won’t miss them that much.”

“I’m more impressed than mad.” Bruce replied, leaning on his cane, “You getting past all the security wasn’t too impressive, but pulling one over on Alfred?” His smirk widened, “And then managing to crack the security in what had to have been minutes at best? Credit where credit is due.” She let out a laugh, “But those pearls? My mother was wearing them when she died.” Her smile died, “Joe Chill tore them off her neck, sending them clattering around that alley.” His gaze was far away, “I found them all, one by one. Several coated in her blood. And the police managed to return the three he stole before he could fence them.” He refocused on her, and started stepping closer, “After the original manor burned down, they were the only things I had left of her.”

Master jewel thief she may have been, but she wasn’t heartless. “All this money and you can never have what you really want, can you?” It was a sudden, striking realization. Maybe not all of the elite were cut from the same cloth.

“No. That was a hard lesson to learn, Miss Kyle.” Her eyes widened and she had to fight to not take a step back. He reached up and unhooked the pearls, “Surprised? I quite liked reading the stories in the papers. You’re quite talented.” He smiled at her, and she was surprised to find herself blushing a tiny bit as he turned away and took a few steps, “Although…” He came to a stop and turned back, “I am quite curious.”

“Oh? About what?” She asked, making to follow him. He had offered her a replacement, after all. Seeing as she earned the pearls and was magnanimous enough to give them back, she figured she’d take him up on his offer.

“With your skill, you could have broken into anything in the mansion.” He replied, and she was not imagining the amusement on his face. He was enjoying this. Despite that, she preened a little, “So what were you planning on doing with these?” He held up a little manila packet about the size of his hand.

Her eyes bugged out and her hand flew to her apron, where her hidden pocket came up empty, “How the-” She hissed as she went into combat mode. She didn’t have any of her equipment, and she was shaken now, “Who are you?”

“Bruce Wayne, eccentric billionaire.” He replied as if he hadn’t just successfully robbed the best damn thief in the country. He crushed the packet and ruined her hard work, “I had a feeling the pearls weren’t your target. They were just a bonus. You were after my prints.”

“Billionaires don’t manage to rob me.” She replied angrily, furious not only at him but at herself for having been taken up by him. “I’m not leaving here without them.”

“Or you could tell me why you were after them and I’ll pay you triple.” Bruce replied, still entirely unconcerned over her now aggressive stance.

“Even you can’t afford that.” She glared, “And at this point, I have my reputation to conSIDER.” She attacked, attempting to sweep his leg and take his feet out with her own. She aimed for the side with the cane, assuming it wasn’t entirely for show.

“Capoeira.” He noted as he took a step back to dodge her foot, “You’re quite flexible.”

‘Damn.’ She was really going to have to knock him out to get what she wanted. She continued her spin and got back to her feet, switching legs, and resetting her stance, she kicked out, aiming her heel for his midsection. He caught her foot, and she immediately leapt, trying to slam a roundhouse kick into his temple. He leaned his head back and she just barely missed his nose with her heel. She landed and immediately tried to kick again, hoping to catch him by surprise and at least scratch that smug grin off his face with her high heel.

And no, she did not want to remember how long it took to perfect fighting with them.

But Bruce seemingly anticipated it, and dodged that too. When she landed, he shoved the leg he was holding back, throwing her off balance and forcing her to roll back to her feet. “You’re skilled, but this is not a dance.” Damn, did that bring back memories. Now he almost understood his old mentor. She changed tacks, rushing him, and trying to punch him this time. “Muay Thai.” He was still smiling, putting his own fists up and mimicking her stance. He blocked her cross and dodged her jab, before stopping her spinning back fist cold and pushing her back and sending her stumbling forward. She regained herself clearly, turning back to him and clear disbelief, “So, seeing as how I can’t afford to pay you triple what they offered, I have to assume they didn’t offer you something physical.”

‘He was never hurt at all.’ She thought in a rising amount of nervousness as she watched him step on his cane with his ‘injured’ leg, roll it back so that the cane was on his foot, and then kick it up into his hand. “Nice act.” She hissed in frustration, eyeing it.

“Oh this?” He asked, raising the cane, “Got used to it. Haven’t needed it in a few years, though. Medical advancements happen all the time, after all. And I suppose there are benefits to having so much money, including unfortunately prohibitively expensive treatments.” Her eyes narrowed, thinking he was mocking her, “Thankfully the head of my team tells me we’re starting to get the costs down as we perfect the techniques. Hopefully soon more people will be able to afford it.”

“Well, aren’t you a regular old bleeding heart.” There had to be something she could do. If only she had thought to at least bring her gloves.

He seemed to find that funny, since he chuckled, “And you’re seeming a little desperate.” She clenched her jaw, “You must really need whatever they offered if you’re resorting to violence.” He rubbed his chin, “The police are after you, of course, but a little old jewel thief doesn’t rate too highly on their radar. If they catch you, they catch you, but they’re not exactly on a manhunt.” He stepped forward and she stepped back, “But assaulting a man in his own home after trying to rob him? Especially one as wealthy as me? After trying to steal biometric data?” He snorted, “Good luck escaping that.” His smile vanished and she felt a chill down her spine as he seemed to stare into her very soul, “You sure you want to continue this?”

She swallowed heavily, “I need those prints.” She said, regret heavy in her voice. She steeled herself to actually fight. She had been going… well, not easy on him, but not full tilt either.

He sighed, “So be it. I suppose it’s my turn then, isn’t it?” He let the cane fall away.

She thought she was ready. He had size on her, sure, but surely if she was trying her hardest her agility and flexibility would win her the day. It always had.

She couldn’t have been more wrong. He was on her with a speed and ferocity that stole her breath away. She managed one single, panicked punch, before she was on her back with him on top of her. He had grabbed her arm and judo thrown her, before rapidly moving. Now his right hand was around her throat, though he wasn’t squeezing. His left hand was trapping her right arm, while his right leg was immobilizing her left. She was a bit thankful that he had been wearing slippers, since as he was now barefoot.

Selina was not afraid to admit this was the most frightened she’d ever been in her life. “We done?” He asked. She slowly nodded, and he let her go, standing and offering her a hand. She took it hesitantly, total disbelief written all over her face.