8568/A Good Feeling; A Lame Excuse

A Good Feeling; A Lame Excuse
Date of Scene:	06 November 2021
Location:	Batcave
Synopsis:	Bruce inspects Selina for any lingering affects of the fear gas shortly after the incident at the baseball stadium. Physically she's fine, but internally she struggles with a newfound anxiety over their relationship sparked by her intoxicated visions, which she does not share with Bruce. She opts not to stay when offered, though they part on positive terms.
Cast of Characters:	Selina Kyle, Bruce Wayne

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Selina Kyle has posed:
    All told, Selina's been adapting to the Wayne lifestyle fairly well. The Bat lifestyle... has some kinks to work out, since she's not used to being this active nightly without material reward; but the two of you are proving to be effective partners in the crime fighting game.

    She is, however, a *terribly* fussy patient.

    "Ahg, jeez...!" she winces as a light shines directly into her eyes, her eyelids fluttering and squinting, trying to bare with it. Her mask is hanging off of her shoulders, but she's otherwise still in costume, seated on a chair in front of Batman. "I never took your for a worry-wart... Gah!" She squeezes her eyes hut and makes a face, clearly seeing spots, and grumpier for that fact.

    Physically she's fine - knocked her elbow pretty hard when she fell backward, but nothing you'd see a doctor about. She did, however, get directly exposed to Fear Gas; and not just a blast of it either. She was pretty much sitting on a leaking source of it. And she was unusually silent on the way home.

Bruce Wayne has posed:
"The variant of the fear toxin Scarecrow used was milder than normal," Bruce answers stiffly, holding up a small penlight to examine Selina's eyes carefully, "Probably because he had limited time to manufacture it. Based on what he was saying when we caught him, Riddler's manipulated him somehow - given him a taste of his own medicine. Nevertheless, this variant's different and you were exposed to it. I need to make sure there aren't any delayed effects."

Satisfied with her eyes, he drops the penlight and picks up a stethoscope. Fully equipped and likely skilled enough to be a medical doctor, even if he has no qualifications. He unceremoniously tugs the back of her costume down to expose her back, pressing the cold metal of the stethoscope against it.

"Take a deep breath."

Selina Kyle has posed:
    "So it was the cheap stuff." Selina surmises, and sighs "Figures. Crane was never a big spender, even when he- *oh* kay." She stops short and reacts with surprise when her costume is pulled down, baring her back to Batman.

    "Yeah." She huffs softly, and takes a deep breath, holding it while idly tapping her foot.

Entire seconds pass with part of her body exposed, and Selina Kyle has not tried to tease Bruce, made a playful pass at him, or even made needlessly suggestive movements.

    So that's weird.

    Her heart beat seems regular, though.

Bruce Wayne has posed:
"Heartbeat and breathing seem fine," Bruce answers, putting the stethoscope down and yanking the costume back up into place as a courtesy, "Looks like the effects are transitory. Good. Means we don't need to distribute extra dosages of the antidote to everyone who was at the stadium."

Leaving his analytical 'mode', he moves back around in front of Selina and sits on the small stool in front of her. After a moment he puts a hand on her knee, looking up at her. He still wears the Batsuit, though the cowl has been drawn back to reveal his face.

"I'm glad you're okay," he offers, belatedly. Until now it had been all business, analysis, and professionalism.

Selina Kyle has posed:
    "So I'm gonna make it, doc?" Selina quips in a tired voice, giving a little 'yerk!' when her costume's yanked back into place, giving her right shoulder a roll to make sure the costume's in the right place not to restrict her movement, with her left hand gripping said shoulder.

    "Hmm?" She makes a little surprised sound when Bruce touches her, blinking once before a tired little smile comes to her face. "Yeah. Told you there was nothing to worry about. People have worse trips in college." She says with some of her usual irreverence, though she sort of dodges eye contact a little bit. It's not super convincing, which may be doubly concerning because usually Selina's a pretty good liar.

Bruce Wayne has posed:
"I'm serious," Bruce offers after a moment, brow furrowing as though the words have to be forced out rather than coming freely. It's difficult for a man so restrained and prone to keeping his every though locked away on the inside.

"When I was in the Batwing, and I heard the gas get released? All I could think about was getting to you. Making sure you were safe."

5bHe clicks his tongue against his teeth, shaking his head and glancing off to one side as the grasps both hands between his knees.

"If it'd been something stronger. If I'd been too slow with the antidote."

Selina Kyle has posed:
    Selina's eyes are drawn back upwards toward Bruce, and she seems taken-aback to see this side of Bruce. It's not the first time he expressed concern for her - usually when she was wrapped up in the plans of dangerous and untrustworthy figures - but this is the first time she's seen that worry personally eat at him.

    While she's downright chatty compared to Batman, Selina Kyle doesn't tend to say a great deal about personal matters, personal feelings. In some ways it's just as hard for her as it is for Bruce.

    After a moment, she squeezes the back of Bruce's hand with one hand, and leans forward, putting the other hand to his cheek to guide his gaze back to her. "... Hey." She says softly, bringing her face close to his. "Don't beat yourself up over stuff that didn't happen." She nudges Bruce's nose with hers and, her voice teasing, notes, "I'll get annoyed."

Bruce Wayne has posed:
There's a serious expression on Bruce's face for a moment, persisting for a few seconds before the corner of his mouth curls up into a half-smile.

"I learned a long time ago there's no enemy quite so great as you when you've got a bee in your bonnet. Consider the matter dropped."

He rises to his feet, reaching out a hand to chivalrously help her off the table.

"Alfred's gone to bed. Want to order a pizza and stay the night?"

Selina Kyle has posed:
    Selina gives a satisfied little grin, taking Bruce's hand and rising up to her feet, seeming more like her usual self as she gives Bruce a soft little smooch.

    Selina heaves an almost relieved sounding sigh at the offer, and starts to say "Ooohh, that sounds..." she hesitates suddenly, asthough struck by a thought. "... great." She finishes distractedly, After a moment she clears her throat softly and repeats, "... *sounds* great. But I probably... shouldn't."

    She seems to consider the matter again for a second, and forces a little smile as she shrugs, "Terri probably needs her food restocked. And I'm pretty sure I won't be welcome back in my own home if she doesn't see me soon."

Bruce Wayne has posed:
Bruce considers Selina's words for a moment, and whatever thought drifts across his mind his features don't reveal it. Even for someone who knows him as well as she does.

"Another time, then," he offers, leading the way to the Batcave's garage where Selina's bike waits, "Give Terri my best."

Selina Kyle has posed:
    For some odd reason Selina feels oddly guilty for a moment as Bruce seems to measure her response, as if she was wronging him somehow for disappointing him. Not because she feels like she owes him, but because some strange anxiety is driving her to this; driving her away from something she'd normally want.

    Catwoman manages a emused little smile, and answers, "Will do~" as she pulls on her mask, and kisses him once more.

    She moves to her parked motorcycle, swinging one leg over it and grabbing the handles before she once more feels an unfamiliar hesitation.

    After a moment, Selina cranes her neck and back a bit to look back at Bruce. "... Bat?" She calls back to him, and, for whatever reason, asks, "... Were you serious about the symbol thing? Me... switching costumes and all that?" She tilts her head slightly, "... Is that something you want?"

Bruce Wayne has posed:

Bruce has already set about returning the medical implements to their correct place, after which he'll put the batsuit in storage and go through his usual after-mission ritual of a shower, nutrient-shake, and then two hours of sleep. When Selina speaks, however, he pauses to listen. He considers what she says before he answers.

"I do. But I want it to be your choice. The relationships I've had, I've always entered into them with one foot out the door already. This time, though, it's different. I'm all in, Cat."

Selina Kyle has posed:
    Selina is silent for a long moment as her eyes dip downwards to the ground, distractedly. It's odd. His response... kinda makes her happy.

    It also makes her feel like running away.

    She legitimately doesn't know what to say right now, but when she looks at Bruce, she can't help a little bit of a smile, nodding once softly before she kisses the palm of her hand and mimes blowing a little kiss over to him. Without a word one way or another, Catwoman simply pulls on her helmet, kicks the bikestand back, and drives out of the cave with a rumble of her bike's engine which gradually recedes into the distance.