Chapter Text
Selina can’t recall why she came to be at this circus event. Perhaps life was getting too mundane; the thrill of a chase only goes so far. Course she would never choose a circus act as her first leisure activity. She’s never seen one before, the life of an orphaned criminal didn’t really give her many chances for what normal kids partook in. Maybe that’s why she found herself here, watching the fantastical show by the Grayson family.
The act was… satisfactory. Her main surprise was that the two parents were accompanied by their son. The child couldn't be older than 10, yet he showed the skill of a seasoned acrobat. Selina was impressed, to say the least. While she herself has never been properly trained for gymnasium, her own flexibility and abilities rival those of professionals. She had enough experience to comment on the show.
The son finishes his part with a fantastical flip in the air. His parents prepare for their final part, but suddenly the ropes suspending them snap.
The child's voice pierces through the commotion. “Mother! Father!”
For just one second, for just one person, time stops. The anguish in the scream would put anyone on edge, but Selina isn't just on edge. In one swift moment, she's 9 again. Her father is shouting about something trivial; Selina can't quite process about what through her muddled hearing. Her mother just stands still, devoid of any emotion or shaking. She takes it like her only purpose of being his wife is to be his punching bag.
The buildup is blurry, maybe from the tears welling in Selina’s eyes. Maybe it just didn't matter all that much. What comes next is clear as day. Her mother holds her hands behind her back, of which she slowly brings forward. She's holding a gun. Her father stiffens, assuming that she's going to shoot him.
She doesn't. She doesn't grant Selina that charity. Her mother instead brings the gun under her jaw. A crack in the air is all it takes to tear her family apart.
“Mother! No, no! Father- Father how could you?!”
The scenarios aren't even close to similar. The only aspect that even blends is that night Selina was left all alone. Sure, she had her sister. But the younger didn't undergo what she did. Selina became the new subject to her father’s abuse. This Grayson child is left all alone. Many people would call Selina apathetic, but they don't know her. She's apathetic because that's how you survive on the streets. That's how you survive as a criminal, a thief. However, she is not devoid of empathy.
That June night in 1989 pulled on her safely guarded heart. After the crowd evacuates the tent in a flurry, Selina looks for the child. She hears the same conversation that the Grayson heir overhears.
“Too bad about that ‘accident,’ Haly.”
“Yeah! But there wouldn't be any ‘accidents’ if you pay us to protect you.”
“You murderers! All right, I'll pay - but only so that no one else will be killed.”
The child lets out a quiet sob. “They… they killed my parents. I need to call the cops-” He's interrupted by running into Selina.
In another universe, Batman takes the kid into his home. They become a vigilante team and fight for justice. In this universe, Selina is a rock in a hard place. She bites her tongue and follows what her gut says.
“Woah kiddo, slow down there. Word of advice here, those pigs aren't going to do anything about this.” It's true, this little town is infamous for the corrupt line of politicians and police. No one can do anything about it, Gotham itself isn't any better.
“But… but I can't just do nothing!” Strong moral justice, Selina can appreciate the resolve.
There's no way that this kid doesn't go and rat on those mobsters, which would only lead to his untimely death. She can't believe she even considers it, but she can't find any way to get him out of danger. She can hear the footsteps of the men echo through the cracks in the door. It wouldn't be long until they'd happen upon them.
Selina gently grasps the kid's arm. “Come with me.”
He doesn't fight her grip, almost limp in her hand. When they approach and enter the car does she bring up the conversation again. “I know someone who can get those guys behind bars. I only ask that you do something for me too.”
“Are you… seriously trying to barter and manipulate me right now?” Damnit, the kid was smart.
“How old are you?”
“9.”
The same age that Selina was left all alone.
“Fine. I'll do you one even better, I'll train you to defend yourself and help the detectives catch your parents' murderers.”
“But…?”
“You'll owe me. Not anytime soon, but you'd do best not to avoid your debt in the future.”
The kid has the gall to scoff. “Deal.” He hesitates for a second. “I'm Richard John Grayson. But everyone calls me Dick.” He puts out his hand to shake.
Selina laughs. “You just gave your name to a known criminal, kiddo.” She shakes his hand.
“Then the criminal should even it out, what's her name?”
She likes this Dick kid. “Selina Kyle. Catwoman.”
Instead of causing the kid to shrink, he gets even more animated. “The criminal and rival to Batman?”
“So you've heard of me? And you're not trying to get out of this deal?”
“Well, you did promise to train me. I only add to the deal that I get a costume and alias! I can't meet Batman like this!”
God, he was a riot. “You're so lucky I have the funds for your little boy wonder.”
“Boy wonder… I like that! I'm the Boy Wonder! Sidekick to Catwoman… Stealer of the rich to the poor!” Dick gasps. “Like Robin Hood! I'm Robin!”
He was getting way too into this. “Hold up, you're not my sidekick. Also again, I'm a criminal. You're 9 years old. The only reason I'm training you is because you're stubborn as a bitch and you'd get yourself killed on the streets otherwise.”
Even as Selina drives, the kid doesn't stop rambling about this new fantasy involving her. She worries that he's already gotten too attached to her, and she knows how that ends. The only reason she doesn't stop Dick’s insistent ranting is because she'll just dump the kid on Batman. He'll know what to do with a wayward squirt.
It seems like the day catches up to the kid when they enter her penthouse. One moment he's discussing how his costume will look, the next he's shaking in sobs. Selina isn't good at this, she doesn't know how to handle kids. She tries to wrack her brain on what would help her and her sister when they were kids.
She feels a pressure on her legs when she notices her cats. It gives her an idea. No matter what she did, cats were always there for her. She guides the small child to the couch and calls for her cats to join them.
“Hey, Boy Wonder.” The boy looks up. Selina takes her most temperate and oldest cat and coaxes her into his lap. It's a frail old black cat, nearing her 15th year. “This is Hecate. The old fuck has been with me since forever. She's practically an expert in dissolving all your problems.”
Dick melts when Hecate begins to purr. He handles her gently, scared to touch but too entranced to shy away fully. The kid’s guttural wheezing fades into soft whimpers. Works like a charm. He seems to ask a question, but it's so soft that Selina asks him to repeat it.
“Who are the others?”
She regards each cat one by one. The first three are black cats, only being distinguished by their eyes and builds. “This one is Julio. He doesn't do well with new people.” Dick nods and doesn't reach towards the cat. It's a small mannerism that he quells, but it means everything to Selina. The boy respects her cats. “This is Kitty. She's kind of a spoiled princess.”
“Kitty? Isn't that on the nose?”
“Trust me, I think so too. But the little pest doesn't answer to anything else.” Dick carefully reaches to pet Kitty, who reacts by headbutting his hand. “This is Isis. She's my partner in crime, but don't go spilling my secrets to anyone.”
“Your cat helps you steal?!” Dick's eyes are full of wonder that Selina can't help but laugh.
She picks up a fawn and white cat, the smallest of the group. “This one is Lover. He's pretty wary but when he gets attached he won't leave you alone.” Dick chuckles, the tears almost fully stopped, only leaving small tear streaks on his cheeks.
Next she introduces a Siamese cat. “This is Otto. He's another old fuck. He's half blind in one eye so don't approach him unless you make enough noise.” Dick nods, seeming to take note of it in his mental catalogue.
The last cat is a large red tabby. “Slinky. She's pretty good at sneaking out of the apartment. Gives me the most trouble and she never listens to me, but she's family.”
“I like your family.” The comment shouldn't warm her heart as much as it does.
Selina tries to shrug it off. “It’s about your bedtime. I have a guest room that should be available.”
But the kid doesn’t get up. “I’m hungry.” Oh, yeah. Kids eat. Right.
“You eat cat food?” Dick scrunches up his face and gags at the principal. “I’m kidding, I’ve probably got TV dinners in the freezer. Take a shower too, you smell like dogshit.”
“I do not!”
“I can smell you from here. And no, I don’t have cat senses. You just stink that bad. When’s the last time you got clean?”
He hesitates, as if the answer will cause her to kick him out on the spot. “I mean, I’ve technically showered last week… But I haven’t showered in weeks with soap. We have to ration it in the circus. It’s too expensive to pay as much as it would to cover all the actors.”
It’s depressing. Others would pity Dick, but all Selina feels is a kinship. She remembers her nights on the streets, when she had to shower for her job but prostitution certainly didn’t cover her funds. “You’re free to use as much soap as you want. Just don’t overdo it on my shampoo. It might be too much for your little cracker hair.” He sticks his tongue at her. He's so lucky she's growing fond of the pipsqueak.
That night, Dick looks tenfold healthier than he did before. Looks like living in the conditions of a traveling circus aren’t meant for children. A child that will likely have to live in those conditions again once they solve his parents’ case. No, Bruce will figure it out. He wouldn’t let the kid end up in foster care. She could only hope.
Selina doesn’t get as much sleep as she’d like before she’s woken up. Much like her feline companions, she sleeps quite lightly. Most disturbances instantly put her on high alert. It’s great for her life as a criminal, but it’s terrible for battling fatigue. Dick is climbing into her bed.
“Kid, what are you doing?”
She can just barely see the tear stains on his face. He’d been crying again. “I had a nightmare.” He doesn’t elaborate further, he doesn’t need to. Selina is well acquainted with nightmares.
“Do you wanna talk about it?”
He hesitates before nodding. “My parents died… The same way they did before. But instead of anyone coming to rescue me, those men. They found me. They- they beat me half to death. I couldn't breathe. I couldn't breathe.” The crying causes him to go into a coughing fit.
Rescue would be a bit of a stretch for what she did. It does certainly fit better than ‘I only saved you because I like when people owe me and it would kill me if I left you to die. And maybe because you remind me of myself.’
Selina gently pulls him to her chest. She cards her hands through his jet black hair. It calms him down, his sobs dwindling to quiet whimpers. “You ever had a nightmare before?”
“Yes. Muri dej says that nightmares bring about bad luck, but she always has this phrase we repeat.” Selina is too tired to ask what ‘dej’ means, but she lets him continue. “But she isn’t here anymore. I know you are not Rroma but… can you do it with me? Please?”
How could she say no? “Sure. What do we do?”
Dick clasps her hands around his. “Dur amendar.” Selina repeats after him, then they say it together. Her look of confusion must be evident, as he goes on to explain. “When bad things happen, you have to say ’dur amendar’ to get rid of it. It’s like saying bless you. Muri dej always told me it to help me feel better.”
Dick seems to settle afterwards. He gets underneath the covers. Usually, Selina would never let anyone sleep in the same room as her. But this kid is so alone, so much like her, that all she can do is let him find comfort in her presence.
The kid wakes up before Selina does. She goes about her matutinal routine; a nice shower, her makeup, and a casual outfit. Her apartment is cluttered with objects and toys, a central pink theme. She wanders into the open living room and kitchen, where Dick is watching ‘Alvin and the Chipmunks’ on her TV.
“Do your cats talk?”
She snorts. “Not in the way you’re thinking of. Animals don’t usually speak.” Selina debates if she should make the kid an actual breakfast. He's young and growing. Eggs and bacon it is then.
“Wait so… this is fake? It’s not based on anything?” Sometimes the kid is so smart that she’ll forget he’s 9 and then little things like this happen that remind her.
“It’s just for entertainment. I’m sure you’ll learn about it in school.” Selina begins cracking eggs together.
“School? I’ll be going to school?”
“Hopefully. I'll have to talk to your adopter about it, you'll probably need your documents.” That does remind her… “Please tell me you somehow brought them with you.”
“Oh, I don't have any of those.”
What.
“You… don't have any documents.” Selina pauses her cooking for a moment to process that.
“Mother said she couldn't get me any. I didn't really understand the reason she told me. I think it went ‘you can't go to the doctor muri chauv, they need a birth certificate.’ Which I don't have.”
Okay. She could work with this. She knows what it's like to lack documents. While she herself wasn't without them, her mother was an undocumented Cuban immigrant. It shouldn't be too hard to get Dick’s since she knows the kids full name. “I'll get it done soon, I know a guy or two.”
“Is breakfast done yet?”
Pfft. “Soon, you little impatient brat.”
“Hey! You woke up so late! I'm so hungry.”
“Why did you get up so early?”
“In the circus we get up at 5 am on the dot to work on our routine.” Yeesh.
“Well, normal people don't get up until 7 am.” Selina carefully plates some eggs and bacon for herself and Dick.
“What did you mean by my adopter? What you said earlier. Are you not the one adopting me?” The boy says before stuffing his face.
“I'm hoping that Batman will take you off my hands after this.” This puts a scrunched look on Dick’s face but he doesn't press further. “After you eat, you need to get ready.”
“Ready for what?” He talks with his mouth full.
“Don't talk with food in your mouth. We're going to go to Batman about your case.”
“What? No! Not yet! He can’t see me looking like a normal kid!”
“You are a normal kid.”
“I don’t want to be a normal kid. I wanna be in my costume! Robin: The Boy Wonder!”
She should shut down his wild fantasies, but he’s so young. Selina never got to live in worlds other than her own. After her mother killed herself and her fathers abuse shifted, she sold out her body just to make enough to get out. She was forced to steal, lie, and cheat. This is a kid whose life can still be happy and whimsical. She can’t be the one to let him down.
“Fine.” Her day shifts just like that. Dick Grayson is going to be the reason she gets gray hairs at 23. “Fine. We’ll spend the day finding some materials for your silly costume. Jesus Christ kid, you owe me big time.”
The smile radiating off the boy is enough to power her flat for the next 50 years. Dick rushes through his morning routine and is ready at the door in less than half an hour. He insists that he takes her hand while they shop. Selina hasn’t had a domestic day like this in years. Her days are mostly filled with solitude or planning her next heist. Domestic activities have never been a priority in her life. But she takes to it like a cat does to tuna. That thought scares her, empathy gets you killed in this line of work.
“You cannot put speedo tights on your costume.”
“What! Why not?”
“Firstly, it looks like ass. Secondly, it’ll cut into your thighs.”
“Ugh, fine! Shorts?”
“Thin ice, but I’ll allow it.”
Dick goes on and on about how he wants his costume to look like and it hits Selina just how much work she’ll have to do. She has to handle her work life on top of sewing Dick an outfit and training him. She’s cut out for her work. Selina always did have a soft spot for strays. The get-up Dick wants isn’t terrible in terms of the complexity, there’s just a lot of components.
The boy’s favorite part of the shopping is dragging Selina by her hand to wherever he wants to go next. It doesn’t matter if it’s not related to his costume, he gets excited at anything. Selina can’t help but wonder how much of the world the little acrobat has seen. If she spends a ridiculous amount of money that day, that’s between her and her bank account.
“All good heroes have a cape. Why don’t you have a cape?”
She sighs. “Because again, I’m a criminal.”
“Well you should wear a cape to trick the people you steal from. Then they’ll think you’re a superhero!”
“That is definitely not how it works.”
“It should.”
“Besides, a cape is how you end up tripping. It’s not efficient for sneaking.”
“Lame.”
Selina tries to pick a restaurant to eat at and it’s then she discovers Dick’s extreme aversion to certain foods. She first suggests they eat at a sandwich place, but Dick complains that sandwiches have too many cucumbers. He’s insistent that all sandwiches have cucumbers, despite Selina’s protest that they certainly do not. Then she asks about an Indian restaurant but apparently they ‘use too much coconut.’ It seems like she’ll have to pull a sneaky trick just to get him to eat something.
“Let’s go get Cuban food then.”
“But-”
“Dick, so help me, if you deny a Cuban woman her culture’s food you will learn what the phrase ‘Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned’ means.” That seems to do the trick.
The duo stops to eat at Ibano’s, and Selina pushes once again that not all sandwiches come with cucumbers. She asks the waitress just to make a point. Dick reluctantly orders a sandwich.
“Why didn’t you order in Spanish?” Dick is sipping on plain water, he made too many complaints about anything else.
“Cause I don’t know too much of it.”
“But you’re Cuban, why don’t you speak Spanish?”
“You’re Rromani, why don’t you speak more of it?” That shuts him up, but Selina feels slightly bad. “My mom died and my dad didn’t understand a lick of Spanish. I got out of practice and life kept happening.”
Dick hums. “Mother said that speaking too much Rromani in public is dangerous.”
Selina doesn’t know too much about Rromani people outside of what she’s certain are stereotypes. She does know that being openly Rroma can land someone on an early date with death. It’s worse in Europe, but it’s still not the best in America either. Isn’t that just ironic? Two people of color who can’t speak their own languages. They share more in common than she initially thought.
Dick falls in love with the first bite of his sandwich. For a little brat that spent 30 minutes complaining about food, he’s quick to stuff it. He's ravaging it as if he hadn't eaten all day.
“Calm down, no one's gonna take it from you.”
Dick looks ready to talk with his mouth full, but instead he covers his mouth first. He's a fast learner. “This might be the best thing I've ever tasted.”
Ain't that the truth.
By the time they get back to the penthouse, Selina and Dick are beat.
“Oh, yeah, I got you a present, Boy Wonder.” She'd snuck a little detour while he was in the restroom, Selina presents a robin bird plush.
“Is that-?”
“Yup, a little robin companion for another little Robin.”
Dick doesn't even argue about being called little like he usually would. He holds the plush like it's actually alive and animate. The kid is about ready to tear up, but he doesn't. He just takes Selina’s hand to the couch and cuddles up next to her. The TV is playing a movie. She can't quite place what it is before they fall asleep.