The apartment was an inconspicuous run off the mill apartment amidst a series of inconspicuous run off the mill apartments. There was nothing to set it apart from the rest, the colour, the windows and even the doors were the same.

That made it the perfect hideout for a criminal.

They noticed men walking in and out of the apartment wearing casual clothing. T-Shirts, jeans, hell even sweatpants. They’d be the normal people you see everyday walking through the street without giving them a single glance. However, if they were so normal why was everyone coming out of the apartment so well built? Did everybody in that apartment go to the same personal fitness trainer?

“They upped the security this time,” Batman said, holding a binocular up to his eyes. “Falcone must realise the noose is tightening around Turk’s neck.”

“Why don’t we just bust in?” Catwoman asked, laying down on her chest with her hands dangling on the edge. “Waiting around here is boring.”

“Turk isn’t good at many things,” Batman said. “But he is good at running away. We bust in and Turk would have already disappeared. We have to be subtle.”

Catwoman yawned. “Whatever you say.”

They watched the men walk back and forth, Catwoman’s head perking up whenever she saw someone walk past. Batman was as still as a stone, peering at the apartment with a steady eye that never wavered.

“Let’s go,” Batman said.

“Good,” Catwoman said, getting up and stretching. “I was just about to fall off to sleep.”

They prowled through the streets silently, taking positions at the main entrance. Two guards appeared through the door, they both grabbed one each, holding each of them in a chokehold until they were knocked out. They entered the building, footsteps barely heard in the empty reception room. They heard another pair of guards walk down the stairs, Batman grappled up to the beams on the roof, Catwoman stuck to the walls.

The guards walked past them, one of them was under Batman. A rope yanked him upwards.

“These jeans are really uncomfortable,” said the second mercenary. “But at least it isn’t like those awful military clothes that we wear isn’t that…”

Catwoman leapt at him from the wall, wrapping her legs around his waist and glove on her mouth and the other on his throat. The man’s body was tight, he resisted but Catwoman was stronger and soon the man crumpled to the floor.

They descended from the beams and walked up the stairs.

“We make a good team, don’t we?” Catwoman said as they went up through the flight of stairs.

“Stop talking,” Batman said. “Focus on the mission.”

“Fine, fine,” Catwoman said, rolling her eyes. “You’re not a great conversationist, are you?”

They climbed up the stairs and turned the corner to see a man talking into his walkie talkie.

“Holy shit, it’s Bat…”

Before she could even blink, Batman threw a Batarang, the walkie-talkie clattered on the floor.

“IT’S BATMAN,” the mercenary screamed. “Batman is…”

Catwoman pounced from the walls and kicked him across his face, silencing him.

But the damage had already been done. They heard footsteps rumbling atop them like thunder and guns being reloaded.

“So much for being quiet,” Catwoman said.

…

“There’s a swimming pool!” Holly exclaimed as they walked past a rooftop swimming pool where a few kids their age were splashing about in swimsuits.

The Cat smiled. “The changing room is over there,” he said gesturing at a corner at the end of the large red hallway. “Make yourself comfortable.” The corridors in this house were painted a deep red, Felicia noticed. Holly ran towards the changing room, making sure not to tip over the bright vases and ornaments that lined the hallways and were probably stolen. They were also paintings that Felicia had or hadn’t seen before all plastered on the walls in golden frames.

Felicia walked ahead. “I’ll be joining her.”

“Wait,” the Cat said placing a hand on her shoulder. “There’s something I need to talk to you about.”

Felicia smiled. “That can wait. I really want to take a swim.”

“It’s something to do concerning Ms. Selina Kyle and your parents,” the Cat said. At that, Felicia paused, a sinking feeling in her chest.

“How do you…”

“You’ll get your answers soon enough,” the Cat said with a gentle smile. “Come, follow me.”

As she followed the Cat through the endless red hallways, Felicia thought about her parents. Felicia didn’t know her parents. Selina was and still is enough, she’d given her the love and lessons she needed but there was always that small piece of Felicia, a tiny little emptiness that gnawed at her heart as to who her parents were. Selina was always vague about it and refused to answer her question. Felicia never really thought about it much until now.

They stepped outside onto a veranda looking over a bright green lawn lined with hedges. The Cat held out a seat for her. She hesitantly took a seat as the Cat took his seat across a fancy small white table.

“What do you know about my sis…” Felicia paused, not wanting to give too much away. “Selina. You know what, I should be asking how you know about her in the first place?”

“The Syndicate carries out extensive research on potential members,” the Cat said. “We know everything there is to know about you, your family relations, your residence. Whatever it is you know about yourself, we know it too.”

“And that isn’t creepy at all,” Felicia said.

“It is to ensure our security,” the Cat said. “And yours as well.”

“I somehow doubt that,” Felicia said.

“Either way,” the Cat said. “We’re not here to talk about your privacy, we’re here to talk about Ms. Selina Kyle.”

Felicia wanted nothing more but to leave. The fact that they knew this much about her freaked her out but there was this tiny voice in the corner of her mind, this voice that wanted her answers. She didn’t want to give anything away to the Cat but internally she took a deep breath and told him to go on.

“Let’s get the appetiser out of the way,” the Cat said. “Do you know the Catwoman.”

Felicia frowned. “The cat burglar? I’ve seen a few newspapers about her.”

“Well, the woman behind the mask is someone you’re very familiar with,” the Cat said. “It’s your friend, Selina Kyle.”