Batsitting

Escapade

The moon was at its zenith, peaking between the clouds as a familiar scene unfolded below in a fancy downtown jewelry room.

Tonight it was an alexandrite cat's eye amulet; it was decently uncommon, and certainly shiny enough to catch someone's attention.

And where Cat went, Bats followed.

"Well, who left the kittens unsupervised?" Catwoman teased, looking over the two youth with amusement. "Isn't it past the little one's bedtime?"

"Lady, I'm way too old to have a bedtime." Robin replied cockily.

"Tell that to your weeknight curfew." Batgirl hummed.

"Hey! Who's side are you on?"

The woman chuckled at their bickering. "So where's the bat? Making it too big time to bother with us lowly crooks?"

She shot back, through the fire door, slamming kicking out the door prop as she did.

The heavy door slammed, auto locking before either youth could get to it.

Catwoman leapt up the stairs, bounding out onto the roof, she was nearly home free.

A firm hand grasped her by the shoulder.

"I guess I'm lucky it was you waiting up here." She handed over the amulet without a fight.

"$325 is a pretty low price tag to grab your attention." The bat replied.

"I thought the name was pretty." Catwoman smiled half-heartedly. When Batman didn't respond, she dropped the act; she stepped closer, looking up to that their noses nearly met. "I never see you anymore." She admitted. "You've been so busy lately with your cute little sidekicks, so I thought I'd engineer a meeting..."

"You should get a move on." He said. "I think Batgirl's planning to declaw you."

"I'll be back for that necklace." She blew a kiss, stepping towards the fire escape. "I'll be expecting you."

And with that she was gone.

There was a drum of footsteps and his apprentices flew out of the other fire door across the building, both panting from the chase.

Robin looked around the roof. "She got away?" He asked, incredulous. "How does she always get away from you?"

"You'll understand when your older." Batgirl taunted, though she herself couldn't help rolling her eyes. "So, what now?"

"Back to the cave." Batman replied. "We need to finish locating Black Mask."

The remainder of the night didn't provide much progress, say for striking a couple potential hideouts off the list, and eventually all three found themselves in bed.

The following day bore a beautiful afternoon in early September, and though the scholastic year was about to start, the day was as hot as at the peak of summer. Bruce was treating his ward-- and Barbara Gordon-- to ice cream; they deserved it after their escapade the previous night.

"So, Dick," Bruce asked, "have you picked out what you're going to wear on Monday?"

"It's not this Monday, is it?" Dick groaned. "I'm not ready yet!"

"Afraid so," Bruce replied, "Monday's your first day of high school."

"No way," Barbara interrupted, tuning into the conversation, "you're starting freshmen year?"