"That's truly unfortunate," Adrian said, his tone calm, tinged with a hint of detachment as he acknowledged Selina's tragic past.
"Can I take that to mean your sympathy is limited?" Selina asked, annoyance flickering in her voice.
"Yes, very limited, Selina," Adrian replied coldly. "Not everyone gives their sympathy freely to those at the bottom of society."
He continued, his voice steady and piercing, "Every so-called hero has a tragic childhood. I suspect you're no exception. A mother who abandoned her child, preferring the company of cats, and who eventually took her own life. An alcoholic father, consumed by grief and anger, who vented his resentment on the child and ultimately succumbed to his own demons."
"This is your life, Selina," Adrian said, his gaze sharp, "a collection of clichés, melodramatic plots lifted straight from third-rate stories. Tragic, yes, but too outdated to resonate with the modern world."
Selina's mouth dropped open. "How… How could you possibly know all this? I erased my records!"
Adrian's eyes met hers. She nodded slowly, realization dawning. "Of course, I forgot. You're not who you used to be. But… what you're saying now… it's harsh. Hearing it as the person involved, I can't help but think—you really are a jerk."
"One could say you're only realizing it now," Adrian replied, a slight smirk tugging at his lips. "Better late than never."
Selina's expression softened slightly. "Every time I see you, it's like discovering a new layer of you, an unknown side I didn't expect."
The two of them reached the orphanage. Its old brick walls loomed in the night, silent and still. Adrian paused, taking in the scene.
"The children are asleep. We can't just stroll in. They've officially listed me as a forbidden visitor," Selina said, shaking her head.
She reached for a rope, preparing to scale the building, but paused. With Adrian beside her, flying seemed a far easier option. She smiled mischievously.
"Do you mind taking me up?"
"And if I say no?" Adrian asked, arching an eyebrow.
"Then you're too unromantic." Selina leapt into his embrace, her arms wrapping around him.
"After all, you marked me," she murmured, pressing close. "Isn't that a declaration of ownership? Am I not yours alone? So, you'll have to indulge some of my whims, even if you find them annoying."
Selina clung to Adrian like a cat, agile and tenacious. He held her effortlessly, then lifted them both toward the highest window of the orphanage.
Inside the dormitory, the children stirred as they entered.
"Sister Selina!" a chorus of voices greeted her.
"It's me, Heller," Selina said softly, kneeling beside a curly-haired boy and presenting a small gift.
"This is the latest model hearing aid. Your old one was taken by the staff. Use this… but remember, sometimes you have to fight for yourself. Don't let them push you around."
Selina's eyes searched the room. "Where's Blanche?"
"She's in the hospital. Fever… we don't know exactly what happened," Heller replied, worry etched on his small face.
Selina's brows furrowed. She glanced at Adrian. "Heller can read lips," she explained.
After confirming Blanche's hospital, Selina took Adrian's hand.
"I came here to celebrate her birthday," she admitted. "I promised her that when she turned seven, I'd give her the blessing card she wanted most and take her flying over Gotham City."
Her voice trembled slightly. "Blanche has always wanted to fly like a bird, to leave this place even for a moment. Her health has always been fragile. I should have noticed sooner…"
Adrian's expression softened subtly. Memories stirred, old empathy resurfacing.
"Don't worry," he said, steady and assured. "I'll make sure the best doctors in the city are at her side."
Selina looked at him with gratitude. "Thank you."
As they left the orphanage and sped toward the hospital, a sudden light cut across the sky. The Bat-Signal.
Adrian tilted his head, amusement flickering in his eyes.
"Who lit that? Commissioner Gordon?" Selina asked. She knew his habits well.
"I don't know," Adrian replied. "Gordon's probably overwhelmed with Arkham and Blackgate. If Batman shows up now, I might even be grateful. He'd be helping me catch one of Gotham's worst."
Selina hesitated. Her loyalty to Batman and complicated feelings for Adrian collided. "Can you… give him a break?" she asked, though her words faltered. "I mean, if possible…"
She shook her head. "Never mind. I know I can't change either of your minds. But I hope this conflict doesn't end with one of you dying."
"That's not up to me," Adrian said simply.
Selina reached out impulsively, grabbing his collar. She kissed him, eyes closed, savoring the moment. Breathless, she pulled back and smirked.
"Enjoy your sweetness for a while. Don't get too smug," she teased. Licking her lips like a sly cat, she added, "I won't be accompanying you further. Remember to be careful."
Adrian watched her disappear into the night with her grappling gun. He lingered a moment, tasting the memory of her lips, then turned toward the luminous Bat-Signal in the sky.
Batman observed it from the shadows, landing silently. Behind the glowing symbol, a figure loomed—a man in a suit, flanked by bodyguards.
"Gordon?" Batman called, uncertain.
"No. Not Gordon," the man replied. "I'm the President's plenipotentiary representative."
He continued with urgency, "The President has been imprisoned by Homelander. He resigned, handing power over to Homelander. But the American government has re-established an interim authority. We have elected an interim president to resist him. Batman, may we talk?"
Batman's gaze narrowed. "Here? Homelander can hear everything. This is too risky."
"We won't stay here," the man said, unwavering. "Two communication satellites have 'mysteriously' collided. They're falling toward major U.S. cities. He'll be preoccupied with that."
Adrian, observing from afar, sensed the tension mounting.
___
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