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“You think you’re so slick don’t you?” Nightwing asked, looking up at the cat thief.
She grinned, balancing delicately on the antenna above him, her long braid dangling as if taunting him just out of reach. “I don’t think so, Songbird. I know. After all, no one’s been able to catch me yet.”
“Do I get a prize if I’m the first?”
She laughed, tilting her head to the side slightly as she stood, flipping lightly off the antenna and landing softly on her feet to face him.
“That would be interesting…. What did you have in mind?”
He shrugged. “Decide in the moment?”
“At least narrow it to a couple of options to pick from in the moment.”
“Answers, Return a stolen good, or-”
“A wild card, perhaps?”
“Wild card?”
“Cat’s choice.”
“And what’s in it for me?”
“Satisfaction that you really are as slick as you think you are.”
She looked at him for a moment before giving him a Cheshire grin and sticking her hand out, raising a brow when he didn’t immediately shake it.
“To seal our deal. Unless you’d prefer to seal it with a kiss?”
He took her hand, surprised at how firm her grip was, the sharp claws at the end of her gloves digging just barely into his suit.
“Good Luck, Blue Bird. You’ll need it.”
She gave him a small wink before taking off into the night, light laughter trailing behind her.
—-------------------------------
“I got Noire,” Nightwing called.
“Big bird got a crush?” Red hood asked, taunting clear in his voice. “That’s the third time in two weeks.”
“No! A bet.”
“You made a bet with a thief?”
“She’s confident she’s never going to be caught. I’m confident I’ll catch her.”
“Well, fuck you I’m going after her too then,” Hood snapped.
“Count me in!” Red Robin chimed in through the comms.
“Tt. Childish antics. I do not need to stoop to that to prove I am superior,” Robin scoffed. “But I too will go after the thief.”
“Why?” he groaned, glaring at Hood.
“We live to spite you. Easy,” Hood replied with a shrug.
“It’s the curse of being the eldest,” Red added.
“I simply wish to further drive the point in that I am the best.”
“I hate you all.”
“Love you too,” chimed the shared response as they all took off with the goal of catching a cat.
—-------------------------------
Nightwing was mid-swing when he was knocked out of the air, hitting the roof hard enough to knock the breath out of him as he and his assailant rolled to a stop, his attacker getting the upper hand as they pinned his wrists above his hand, bracing their shins on his knees. Familiar claws pricked his wrists.
“Good evening, Noire.”
“Nightwing. Is there a reason I’ve had most, if not all, of the BatClan chasing my tail tonight, Blue Bird?” she asked, narrowing her eyes at him.
“I may have let our little bet slip out.”
“I hope they realize our little prize system doesn’t apply to them.”
“They just want to spite me.”
She laughed, letting him up from her pin. “I can respect that. I’m always for a good bit of chaos. Looks like your half of the bet has just gotten a significant bit harder. Still confident?”
“Completely.”
“Good.”
—-------------------------------
Nightwing grinned as he spotted her . He landed softly, grinning at the faint twitch of the ears on her head that she seemed to disregard. He’d barely made it a step before her light laughter rang out as Red Robin slammed into him, knocking him down.
“Not letting you win that easily.”
“But you’ll let Hood?”
That distracted Red Robin enough to let Nightwing shove him off and throw bolas at Hood feet, throwing him off balance, as Lady Noire simply side stepped causing Robin to trip over the fallen Red Hood.
“Unlucky. You are going to have to do better than that boys if you want to have any hope of catching me.”
She hopped delicately onto the roof lips with a small laugh.
“Oh and Blue Bird? I hope you know our bet is null and void if you have assistance. But if you manage to do it despite these…. Buffoons, I may be tempted to let you have two prizes for the price of one. Better luck next time, fellas,” she said before hoping off, disappearing into the night as the four brothers picked themselves up.
“So, you’re really telling me you don’t have a crush on her?”
“I do not.”
“I don’t buy it,” Red Robin spoke up.
Hood snorted. “No one does. Big Bird is deluding himself.”
“I am not.”
“She is clearly flirting with you. If you deny that, Nightwing, you are blind. Especially as you will flirt with anything you deem slightly pretty which she very much is.”
“Big Bird and Baby Bird have crushes.”
“I will kill you again, Todd.”
Red Robin’s laughter was cacophonous as Hood held Robin off, the shout of “Don’t think I won’t kill you too, Drake!” was not missed making the laughter harder.
—-------------------------------
Nightwing dove, tackling the petit figure off of her perch and wrapped his arms around her, both shielding her from the unexpected impact so he could control it and to prevent her from escaping.
He straightened, pinning her down with a grin, not expecting her to laugh and smirk up at him in return.
“Looks like the little birdy was the first to catch the cat. No other Bats tonight?”
“Just you and me.”
“Good. Well you won our little bet. And despite your team’s best efforts. I’ll give you 2 for the price of one.”
“So generous.”
“I try. Well?”
“An answer and a Wild Card?”
“Ask away. One question.”
“My team is convinced you like me, I’m not so sure. Are you?”
She raised an eyebrow as he said this, “We both know you’re smarter than that. Or are you just seeking reassurance?”
He shrugged. “Maybe I just want to hear you admit it and that wasn’t an option for our little bet.”
She laughed. “Well then I would be lying if I said I didn’t find you attractive and funny. And since you chose the wild card, if you had any doubts….” she trailed off before, leaning up and kissing him, niping slightly at his lower lip as she pulled away.
She looked up at him with a grin. “Satisfied?”
“With my question? Yes. With you? Not in the slightest.”
She laughed, quickly breaking his hold on her and flipping their positions.
“I’m glad. Best to leave them wanting more. Keeps the chase interesting don’t you think?”
“I’ve caught you before I can do it again.”
“I certainly hope so,” she whispered, pushing off and disappearing over the roof edge before he could stop her.
“Oh it’s on.”