Echoes of the Past

Rated: T

Summary: Bruce Wayne went to the charity dinner with his newest ‘victim’, Dinah Lance (who was ready to knock him anytime). There, they met someone else...Guest starring: Black Canary and Green Arrow

Special thanks to Jennifer Larissa for the great beta and for all readers for their precious feedbacks. All characters belong to the DC Comics, and though it’s not in continuity with the current DC episodes, I really don’t mind they adopt the Bat-WW frenzy here! And trust me, I make no money from this.

Chapter 9. Other Choices of Happiness

The Gotham Royale Hotel was buzzing as a flock of local and national celebrities just arrived at the charity night for the American Heart Association. Though the original intention was to raise funds for higher quality heart research and more accessible treatment for all in need, the sweet ganache of the events was more interesting. Not only did these sorts of events attract many actors, actresses, singers, and models (you name it), Gotham’s rich and attractive men and women (single or married with kids) also came with their partners (official or non-official ones, long term or just for the night). And these people attracted more attention to the press, much more than the doctors and heart researchers who were also there. That is, unless the paramedics were also dashing, beautiful, or rich.

One of the most anticipated guests tonight was Diana of Themyscira, the Ambassador of Themyscira, a.k.a. Wonder Woman, who was accustomed to attending such humanitarian events. But the reporters of Gotham Gazette and Gotham Morning Herald had received a confirmation from the event organizer that Madam Ambassador would not be able to attend the event, as she was required somewhere else at the exact time of night. Gotham’s gossip reporters could only mutter a curse, as they would fail to confirm any suspicion on Wayne’s possible relationship with the Amazon. Of course, 95 of the reporters themselves didn’t believe that such a mature, smart, beautiful woman like Diana would fall for a womanizer jerk like Bruce Wayne, despite the rumor that the couple had been spotted together at least twice during such events. Plus there were some rumors of their appearances together in Japan and Indonesia. But still...Wonder Woman with the Bruce Wayne? What, the world’s going to end?

So, when the Wayne limousine stopped right in front of the red carpet and the debonair Bruce Wayne in a dashing Armani strolled into the ballroom with a fair lady (blonde, blue eyes, and oh, so sexy...) in his arm, these reporters just stormed for the interviews.

“Mr. Wayne, who’s this charming lady this time?”

“Rumor has it that you spent some times in Bali and Tokyo with Diana of Themyscira, is this true?”

“Mr. Wayne, how about Ms. Da Costa that you took out the other night?”

“Mr. Wayne... Bruce... smile, please?”

Lights from the camera flashes seemed eternally burst to capture the gorgeous couple. The blonde lady, clad in a gorgeous deep blue silk empire-line Vera Wang dress, seemed tense, and almost ready to punch any reporters next to her. Several times the billionaire tucked her hand and smiled oh so admiringly at her, making her a bit relaxed again. By the time the entire ‘introduction’ was over, the couple just darted into the ballroom to escape.

“This is the first and the last time I help you with this!” Dinah Laurel Lance, a.k.a. Black Canary, hissed in vengeance.

“I almost thought you enjoyed this.” Bruce Wayne nodded nonchalantly to several guests.

“Enjoy, my ass! If it weren’t because I lost the bet with Babs, I would never – ever – do this crap business. Being Bruce Wayne’s date for the night!” Impatiently, she shoved a stray of her hair and rolled her eyes. “Anyway, Diana gave her consent, so I don’t have to play cat and mouse with her.”

Bruce arched his eyebrow. ‘Cat’ appeared a lot in the conversation these days.

“How do you know that Diana approved?” he took a glass of Champaign and charmingly sipped the rich golden liquor.

“She called me this afternoon.” Dinah opted for Chianti.

“She did, did she?” Bruce smirked. “What did she say?”

“That I’m always welcomed to toss you across the room if you dare to really grab my butt.”

In an attempt to contain his laughter, Bruce almost choked up. “That’s...a very good advice.”

“Yeah... can’t say I would handle it this well if I were her.”

Bruce swept the room with his dopey playboy glance, noting that the arrival of several actors and actresses had diverted the press’ attention from him. Good. Despite Batman’s indifferent demeanor to the Black Canary, he highly respected the female martial artisan. Not to mention she was Barbara Gordon’s closest friend who accompanied her since before her darkest hours until the present days. The less frequent he had to play the playboy game with her, the better for him.

“So... you lost the bet from Barbara that Diana and I would really end up together?” He swirled his Champaign glass casually.

“How do you kno –” Hello? The World’s Greatest Detective? “Well, that was Tim losing bet from Babs on that. Me, I bet that it would take at least half a year for you before you admit that you have a thing on her.”

Bruce cast his eyes heavenwards grumpily. Thank you, Titans of Myth.

“It turned out, it took only...what...four months for you to go out on a mission with her to Minosyss. And met a bunch of Titans and Outsiders there.” Dinah shrugged. “So, I lost.”

He snorted. “Well, at least that made you my date tonight.”

She tucked her blonde hair again and replied sweetly. “Well... let’s not forget that Ollie will be arriving here shortly.”

“No kidding. What did you see in him, anyway?”

“Riiiiiggght. What did Di see in you, anyway?”

“Before we go into such discussion, I should wave and bluff with some folks. Shall we go together?”

“Please, Mr. Wayne, gimme a break. Those reporters were annoying enough. Your friends here? I could really, really punch them.”

“Just five minutes, then you excuse yourself to the lady’s room.”

Dinah Lance studied her ‘date’ of the night carefully. She had known Bruce Wayne for a long time, though at first through his other persona as the Dark Knight. She was also aware of his habit of dating various women, mostly because of the necessity to protect Bruce’s real nocturnal activities. However, she also knew that Bruce was quite serious in pursuing a true relationship with some very limited member of the fairer gender, an attempt that seemingly always made him a darker and stoic man.

Until recently, as the rumors among the Leagues, Titans, and Outsiders slowly but sure revealed that the Batman had started dating the Wonder Woman, of all women. Dinah was far from jealous of learning this gossip, which later on proved to be true. On the contrary, she was quite happy that Bruce Wayne, a man of cold but golden heart, had finally found someone he could trust his love to. She had observed the slight change in Bruce’s demeanor so far. In such events like this, he still (understandably) wore his playboy smile. However, since her arrival from Metropolis at the Wayne Enterprise private airport (Zinda dropped her with Aerie One at the airport to meet Bruce and Alfred who personally picked her up) and all the way to the Gotham Royale, the playboy had now and then cast his genuine smiles to her, smiles that she originally had thought he had lost.

The Batclan should really thank Diana. Dinah finally sighed and followed her date, entering the dangerous blood-sucking vampires.

With Dinah in his hand, Bruce strolled deeper into the ballroom, wave at Lucius Fox, grinned at Donald Trump, shook hands with Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie (Diana often met the actress during the UN missions), and was tempted to start a serious discussion on the latest development of aortocoronary by-pass methods with one of the heart physicians in the party when he realized that Bruce Wayne should know near to nothing of cardiac surgery. He then wrote a very generous cheque, gave it to Lucius, and started to bluff about his latest polo game, while all along tucking his newest ‘girlfriend’.

The master of ceremony had only begun his speech on the importance of the event when Dinah gave up and excused herself ‘to the lady’s room’. After ten minutes, Bruce left the crowds and standing nearby the cocktail table, watching as the head of the Gotham City Hospital started yet another speech. Behind his laid-back expression, Bruce planned a possible donation to a Dyslexia research in Harvard University, a topic in which Diana also interested. Thinking of her made him smile a genuine smile that rarely showed in Bruce Wayne’s face, at least in public. I should’ve called her before about last night. Should be interesting to hear.

Suddenly, he noticed someone standing behind him. Speaking of which...

“Hello, Bruce.”

He turned to face Selina Kyle, gorgeously dressed in a short emerald strapless gown, her hands clad in white party gloves.

“Selina. Enjoying the party?”

“Not as your date tonight does.” She gestured to Dinah who just went back to the room. The blonde woman abruptly stopped as she registered the identity of the woman to whom Bruce was talking. Dinah waved a permissive hand and disappeared into the crowd.

“My, isn’t she polite tonight,” Selina arched her eyebrow.

“Doesn’t want to get in another row. One is enough for tonight.”

“Did she slap you or something?” Her emerald eyes sparkled in mild amusement.

Bruce winced. “Not yet. Someone will surely do that soon.”

“Well... let’s hope it’s not me.”

He looked at her in the eye. “I sure hope not.”

As Bruce earlier told Diana, his history with Selina was a long book to read. And when he and Selina met or dated in parties, being the sexual creature she was, Selina was usually sensual and alluring. Not that she wasn’t stunning tonight, she was always attractive. The admiration and lust of many men who looked at her were the proof. But tonight, she didn’t purr and seduce, even just for fun, the way she usually did. He knew that she wanted to talk in private.

“We go outside, shall we?”

She nodded. “The balcony’s a good idea.”

xxx

“You’ve met Diana last night.”

She cast a look at him. “My...aren’t we forward.”

“I know you want to stick to the point.” Bruce walked to the ornate iron railing of the balcony and placed his hands on it, trying to enjoy the night breeze of Gotham.

Selina Kyle shrugged, her hand fidgeting with a large Egyptian cat pendant dangling at her slender neck. “I s’ppose...”

After a few minutes of uncomfortable silent, the long time friends and former lovers didn’t truly know what to say.

“Bruce, listen – ”

“Selina, I –”

Upon speaking at the same time, they cast shy smiles. He took a careful look at her. She was as great and sexy as ever, smart and witty as ever. When did all things go wrong? That, no matter how hard they tried, it seemed that it just didn’t fit?

He sighed, trying to start again. “Selina, listen.”

“No, Bruce. Lemme talk first.”

He shook his head. “No. This time, I have to do that first. Just...bare with me. This is not easy.”

She smiled remorsefully. “What is easy with you?”

He grimaced. “Well...yeah...for starters...I’m not good at this type of talking.”

“Really.”

“And it’s hard, because...you’re so dear to me.”

She stood still.

“I...” Facing her, he fingered his immaculate hair, trying to find suitable words. “Selina, we’ve tried. You know we did. Many times. It’s...It’s just didn’t...work.”

Folding her hands, she turned away to see the moon above. The same crescent moon that she and Diana saw last night. Selina Kyle sighed.

“She said that she and I are both daughters of the moon. Perhaps, that’s why you love us.” She took a glance at him. “Bats, you see? They love nights and the moon.”

His lips formed a faint smile. “What else did she tell you?”

She looked away again. “That...you will always love me, care for me. That you and I will always have a connection. And she respects that.”

“You believe that?”

“She’s the Warrior of Truth, Bruce. Perhaps I should have my head checked. But despite my earlier reservations, I believe her. Still... I need to hear from you directly.”

Bruce nodded. Slowly, he grabbed both of her arms gently, making her face him. “Selina… we had our quarrels and disputes.” He pursed his lips before resuming, “We also had our love, excitements and pleasures together. While those days are...gone now...we still have our friendship. A long-time precious friendship. And I intend to keep that.”

She studied him for a while.

“Still wanna race to City Hall, sometimes?”

“I’ll still beat you.”

“Since when? Still gonna help me if I need you?”

He shrugged. “You have my beeper and number. Plus –” he smirked, “you can always use the cat-signal if you need me.”

She lifted her neatly trimmed eyebrows, her lips curled into a smile. “That’s a good idea.”

“I can help you make one. The cat signal.”

“No way.”

“Way. But that might give indications to the villains of your whereabouts. Better stick with the beeper and the phone number.”

“Really. How ‘bout if I need you to rescue me?”

He frowned. “In a dire situation where you most unlikely going to survive alone?”

“Unlikely gonna happen. But if?”

He folded his hands. “I will rescue you, of course.”

“If Diana’s there?”

“She will rescue you.”

Eyebrows arched. “Really, Bruce. I mean, if you have to choose between her and me?”

He sighed. “I choose you.”

Emerald eyes blinked in disbelief. “What?!”

“Diana once stated that should any circumstances force me to choose between saving her and other heroes, I should save the others first.”

She remained agape.

“Because she believed that she could save herself. Or at least, she’s more resilient than others. And...quoting what she said, ‘that’s what heroes are for’.”

“You...” the Feline Fatale tried to speak. “...really can do that?”

He sighed. “I admit, if facing a condition between saving her and you, that will be a very hard choice. I love her, Selina...” His eyes begged for her to understand. “...but you are a very dear person for me. Choosing between saving her life and yours would almost be impossible to me.”

Selina remained silent.

“But then, she told me what I’ve told you just now. That lifted my burdens quite a bit.” He gathered his thoughts, and spoke again. “That doesn’t mean that I undermine your presence, or that I help you or the others just because she said so.”

Slowly, he saw a glimmer of understanding emanated from the emerald eyes in front of him. She was finally convinced that he, the World’s Greatest Detective, still loved her, the World’s Greatest Thief. The Protector of East End. The Feline Fatale. Despite her past, Bruce Wayne, the Batman, still loved her the way she was, though now it was a platonic friendship love, instead of lust. She felt that she could live with that.

“Such a vanity, if said by other than her.” She finally commented.

He shrugged. “That’s Diana.”

She looked at him again. “Okay. One more thing.”

“Yeah?”

“Next time you pick a girlfriend, choose a bitchy one will ya? A girl like her makes it hard for me to be catty.”

He chuckled this time. She produced a grin, despite her attempt to restrain it.

“I’ll try to remember that.” He extended his arm to hug her.

She hesitated for a while, and then poured herself in his embrace. It felt...strange. Despite the lack of desire they used to share, his frame and hands were still protecting and comforting. And strangely, that moment she felt nothing but grateful that he was and always would be her friend.

He stroked her short hair fondly. “You’re going to be all right?”

Hidden by his frame, she managed a little smile. “You betcha.”

He nodded. After maintaining the embrace in a comfortable silent, they broke off.

“You went here alone?” Looking at her in the eye, he inquired again.

“Leslie. She’s somewhere here. I have to find her soon.”

“Don’t worry, dear. I’m fine.”

Bruce and Selina turned to the balcony entrance to see Dr. Leslie Thompkins smiling at them, her hand toting a glass of Champaign.

“Got more funding, Leslie?” Bruce greeted his former foster parent.

“As always, thanks to you. Selina, they have some great wine over there, darling.”

The younger woman nodded, then entered the ballroom. “See you later, Bruce.”

Bruce gestured to escort them inside, but halted by the older woman.

“And when will you introduce me to Diana – properly?” Leslie whispered.

He blinked. “Uh...yes. I – ”

“She came to the clinic last night. A very nice lady. You should behave yourself, Bruce.”

“Uh...I will...” Despite their intermittent arguments, Bruce still considered Leslie his parent. And tonight, he felt like his own mother was scolding him of not introducing his new girlfriend to her. Now I know what Clark feels when Martha Kent gives him that look.

Dr. Leslie Thompkins smiled again and left to join Selina.

“Bruce!”

Oh, please. Now what?

He turned to see the blonde Dinah walking to him, very sensual and seductive. Then, she leaned to him in such a way that would make Selina jealous (for Dinah’s seducing techniques) if it were done a few months back. He only needed half a split second to overcome his surprise, and hugged Dinah back.

“Ollie’s here, I take it?” he whispered.

“Yeah,” Dinah murmured sensually. “Be ready to get a punch.”

“Should I grab your behind?”

She squinted and purred sweetly. “You want me to hit you instead?”

He flashed his most enchanting playboy smile. “I don’t recall you plan that?”

“Yo! Wayne!” A harsh voice rang from behind him.

And suddenly Bruce Wayne was flying towards a table behind and crashed unceremoniously.

“Ya bastard!” Oliver Green towered tall over him. “Ya ain’t takin’ away my girlfriend and still livin’ to tell the story!”

Bruce grinned, seemed hard to get up (though actually, without difficulties). “Well... I would say she enjoys it. Perhaps you should take care of her bet –”

Another blow, Bruce slamming another table, and the press gathered around the two celebrities. Dinah Lance, a.k.a the Black Canary, cast her eyes heavenwards. If only these guys know they’re watching the Batman and the Green Arrow fighting like ten year olds...

xxx

Selina shook her head. “That’s what he meant by that.”

“What, dear?” Grinning, Leslie still watched Bruce Wayne and Oliver Queen fighting. The woman doctor often felt that Bruce’s attempts to maintain the womanizer status was ridiculous, but occasionally she still found it amusing. At least, this time.

“Nothing.” The younger woman looked at her. “I have to go soon. These things are no fun anymore.”

The older woman looked at Selina in the eye and understood. “Oh...honey...I’m sorry.”

She shook her short raven hair. “Really, Leslie. There’s nothing to be sorry for.”

“Do you need to talk about it?”

Her delicate eyebrows knitted into a frown. “No. Well...not now, at least.”

“He still cares for you.”

“Doesn’t change the fact that he’s with her.”

“Doesn’t change the fact that he cares for you.”

She looked at the older woman in the eye. “Leslie, really, do you think that’s a reason to be happy?”

“If a true friendship can’t make you happy, then what?”

She shrugged. “Dunno.”

They walked towards the exit together.

Selina spoke again. “But...from what I’ve learnt so far...a nice sunset in this city will do.”

“That’s a good start.”

“Also... a nice night breeze while swinging from one pole to another. And feeding my youngest kitten more milk.”

Leslie nodded.

Selina pursed her lips. “A good chat at the balcony with an old friend, and a warm hug afterwards.”

Dr. Thompkins smiled.

“And...” Selina took Leslie’s hand to escort her, “sharing warm hot chococino at the roof top while gossiping a certain jerk.”

The older woman chuckled, patting the younger woman’s hand.

Selina Kyle smiled. “I might take another cup tonight.”

xxx

Author’s note:

Black Canary has already given up her secret ID, but dunno if Green Arrow’s secret ID is off now (people in DC message board said so). I tried to write Selina based on Brubaker’s revamp, a more matured woman who tried to find happiness in more essential things. So, here she’s not that the way she used or sometimes is still notoriously portrayed. In the light of the recent Catwoman #50 (when Zatanna revealed the dark past that she and some of old leaguers – including the Black Canary – mind wiped Catwoman), and despite my assumption that Dinah knows Catwoman’s secret ID, her reaction to Selina talking to Bruce has nothing to do with the mind wipe. Coz I don’t bother to include mind wipe in my continuity.

Oh, and Gail Simone made the Black Canary kissed Batman (as a token of gratitude) in Birds of Prey#90. So, Dinah can be quite a shock, sometimes!

Next: East End again.