Panther

Chapter ten: Motherliness.

I drew Batman in a suit and a crown too. I'll miss how we always get away from him with the money. I drew Dick Grayson and I also gave him a small crown because he was going to be my first crush. I also drew Jason and I but without the crowns. I also drew Alfred who promised me funnel cake but ended up killing me. I wish he gave me the cake first.

I looked at it. It was practically a family portrait. I only wish I knew who Catwoman was behind the mask, she doesn't know me but I wish she did. I'm going to miss earth. I turned the page and drew a bagel. A huge one. Then I turned the page and drew Catwoman again. I decided that I was hungry so I ate some of the food on the tray. I tore the page that had Catwoman only on it and held it close, if I'm being honest with myself, she'll be the one I miss the most. I looked at it and just decided to put it on the desk.

I wrapped myself up more in the blanket and slept on the couch. The couch was so comfortable. I immediately fell asleep.

Bruce's POV.

Imagine my surprise when Alfred came rushing to the medbay with a little girl in his arms who looked close to death. Dick following behind him closely. Alfred immediately hooked her up to the life support machine. I asked, "Who is she?" Dick said, "Her name is Crystal Ambers and she's a friend of mine from school." I recognized her immediately, "Isn't she the little girl who we once took out for Chinese takeout and never found and or saw ever again?" Dick nodded and asked Alfred, "What's wrong with her?" Alfred replied, "She fainted due to exhaustion and by the looks of it, she hasn't been eating that well. It might take a while for her to wake up."

I remember her, I searched her up and called her parents who convinced me that she was just feeling neglected because they came home really late when she was asleep and left really early when she was asleep. I can't believe I was so stupid as to believe them and give them the benefit of doubt. I'm calling social services. I said, "Excuse me, I need to do something."

I decided to find out if she has biological parents who are still alive and if not, I'll adopt her and get her adoptive parents arrested. I doubt that they're even in Gotham but I'll put a warrant on them. I asked Alfred to run her DNA through the computer in the Batcave and began making phone calls.

Timeskip to a week later when Crys wakes up.

I received a call from Selina who sounded like she was crying? She asked, "Bruce, do you by any chance have my sidekick? I know you have a habit of adopting children." I asked, "Tell me her name." She replied, "Crys spelt K-r-i-s. And she wears a bracelet which has a purple gem in the middle. She goes to Gotham Academy with Dick Grayson and is friends with Artemis Crock. Sportsmaster's daughter." I said, "Yes, she's here at the manor with us. She passed out due to exhaustion. I wonder why."

She said, "I'm coming over." She hang up. Sure enough thirty minutes later, she was at the door knocking frantically. How am I going to tell her that Crys has been unconscious for a week? Alfred opened for her the door.

I decided to go check on Crys only to find Dick in the bed that she was in but she wasn't there. The iv needles that were keeping her alive were pulled out. Though, I was able to see her footsteps. I followed them to my study. And found her sleeping lightly in my couch and using my towel as a blanket, the place was messy and she had found a book about Da Vinci's works and built them almost correctly. And a notebook on the floor where she had drawn,

Crys' POV

I heard someone walk into the room. I opened my eyes and saw the guy who once took me to get Chinese takeout was with me in the room. Looking at the notebook that I had drawn in. Did he die too? Wait, no. This is Bruce Wayne. Wait, so I'm not dead. He hadn't noticed that I was awake. I asked him curiously, "Excuse me. May you please explain to me how I got here?" He looked at me and said, "You passed out. You've been unconscious for a week. Do you remember anyone." I said, "I remember everyone in that notebook." He asked, "You are good at drawing, where did you learn from?" I said sincerely, "I was forced to learn." He looked shocked by my revelation. Then suddenly a woman who looked very angry burst in the room. She immediately glared at Bruce and asked, "Where is she?"

She saw me and said, "Kris. You're alive." She picked me up in my blanket and hugged me tightly. She asked, "Are you okay?" I nodded and said, "Just a little tired." She said, "I was so worried about you. What happened?" I said, "I don't know. But I suspect the butler." She said, "Alfred would never harm you." I replied, "In the mystery novels at the library at school, if the butler is there, he's the culprit or the person who knows all. Otherwise, I think I passed out due to over exertion and the fact that I only eat bagels since all school food is crappy." She said, "Why didn't you tell me that you weren't taking care of yourself right? I could have helped. I thought you got kidnapped by the Joker."

Okay, so this lady thinks that I know her. Well she isn't trying to kill anyone so I guess I'll just go along with it. Does she know that Batman is in the room. I am way too tired to even move. I said, "I'm fine." She hugged me again. She seems to be really shaken up though. She turned to look at Bruce while I just rested against her. She was so warm that I closed my eyes and relaxed on her. Wow, so I think that she immediately assumed that I was asleep.

Bruce asked, "So does she know that you're Catwoman?" She replied, "I think so, otherwise her reaction would have been a whole lot different than complete relaxation." Oh, no wonder she cares. She is Catwoman. She sighed in relief and said to me, "This girl is always giving me a heart attack."

Third person's POV.

Catwoman asked, "Okay, Bruce. What happened?" But before Bruce could answer her Alfred came into the room and said in his British accent, "Pardon my intrusion Master Bruce but the DNA results are ready." Bruce replied to Alfred, "Thanks Alfred." Alfred who didn't know the results handed over the paper and left the room. Bruce opened the paper and read the results. His face paled. By now Crys was in deep sleep. And didn't know anything going on around her. Selina snatched the paper from his hands and read it. She didn't become pale, she just held Crys tighter and examined her face. It was quiet and awkward.

Selina said, "That, that would explain a lot. She looks like me, acts like me, thinks like you. I don't know where the silver colour in her eyes came from though." Bruce asked quietly, "Why didn't you tell me?" Selina asked, "How could I? When I was three months pregnant, I snuck into the manor to tell you and instead found you in doing it with some blonde bimbo. So I decided to take care of this myself. But, the paramedics, they told me she died after I had pushed her out. Well, they asked for a name to put on the birth certificate and death certificate. I gave them Crystal Ambers Kyle. I don't know what happened after because the paramedics buried her, I even know where her tombstone is and I still visit sometimes. But, how did she survive? She was dead. How is she alive?"

Bruce had a mixture of emotions on his face, guilt, happiness, sadness, fear. He said, "We should ask her when she wakes up. I wonder how she's going to take the news? I wonder how Dick is going to take the news." They kept quiet and then Bruce asked, "Is there anyone who knew, about your pregnancy at the time?" Selina said, "Yes, Alfred knew, so did Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn." Bruce was about to talk, "And no, I didn't tell Alfred, he just knew. I told him about her death and asked him not to tell you." He kept quiet and said, "I'm sorry." She said, "It's fine, I'm over it. It turns out, somehow she's alive." Bruce asked, "Should we tell her?" She said, "Yes. After she wakes up."