Why We're Here

Am I?

Sleep was out of the question. All I could do was stare at the cieling, trying to ignore Barbara talking to someone in the other room. While I could only hear muffled versions of one side of the story, it did nothing to help my morale.
I tried not to let it bug me, but it did. She would rather talk to the same person on the phone than actually talk to me. Nobody wanted to hang out with me anymore. It seems that, once I hung up my shockers, everybody decided I was useless. Perhaps they only kept me around because I could fight. Because I could continue the mission.
That wasn't true, it couldn't be. Barbara and I moved in together after I had decided to drop Blitz. Dick and I had made a promise to always be best friends, and he still visits or calls every so often. Still, he only came for short visits, none over an hour. Even Clara can't find time in her busy schedule for me. When she does, I'm at work.
Maybe they just pity me. Poor Lucille, orphaned by Superman, still isn't over the death of her parents.
Lying in bed and staring at the cieling wasn't going to help matters. I flung off the blanket and slipped on my sweatshirt. I had to get away, to go somewhere I could think.
There was only one place.
Loosening the floorboard, I pulled my grappling wire out from my costume box. It was the quickest way to travel at three in the morning, especially for where I want to go. Throwing on my coat, I opened the window and launched out.
Barbara used to laugh at how I had a favorite gargoyle. There were several buildings in Gotham was decorative gargoyles. One in particular, the municipal building, had the gargoyles the highest of them all. I particularly enjoyed one on the East side, it had a perfect view of the harbour.
That's where I went. It was cold, and covered in ice, but it was still the perfect place to think. I flopped down on my gargoyle and buried my face in my hands.
Am I losing what little family and friends I have? I'm not a superhero now, and they all are, maybe they see me as a burden. The one protege that didn't grow up great. I'm the one bat who became a human.
"Well well well, look what the cat dragged in."
I didn't even have to look up to see who was talking, "Selina."
Selina Kyle, better known as Catwoman, perched next to me. I had half a mind to push her off, but I knew Bruce would kill me. Besides, occasionally, I actually liked Selina.
"I thought you quit the whole vigilante thing?" she asked, almost like purring.
I scoffed, "Yeah. I'm up here as Lucille, not as Blitz."
Long ago, Selina had discovered all of our identities. Bruce gave me a lecture about exposing us, but he didn't hesitate in telling the cat burglar who we all were.
"Somethin' wrong?" she asked, "Only ever seen you up here when you're sad."
I glanced at her, "What?"
"You're the only kid I know who has a favorite gargoyle."
"That makes no sense."
Selina smiled, "You get used to it. Now, what's weighing you down?"
"I don't want to talk about it."
"You mean you don't want to talk to me?" she asked, "Who else are you going to talk to, the ever emotional Batman?"
Her sarcasm was thicker than icing. I glanced up at her. Part of me didn't want to talk to her. I knew anyone would dismiss me for thinking my friends and family didn't like me, but she was different. She was Catwoman, she had been on the outside far too many times. If I were to talk to anyone, it would be her.
"I don't think they want me around anymore," I frowned, "Ever since I hung up my cape, they all seemed to want to get rid of me. They're always too busy. Even my own roommate pushes me away."
Selina lifted an eyebrow, "Did you ever consider that they actually are busy? They are still heroes."
"Yeah, but they never have a break, ever! Heroes at least get the day off, most of the time. They should be able to spare five minutes."
"Look, coming from someone who knows what it's like to love the unloveable," Selina smiled comfortingly, "Hero work takes up a lot of time. It's not that they don't want you around, I know for a fact Bruce loves you."
"You do?" I asked.
Selina nodded, "Yeah, he talks a lot about you and Dick. Barbara too. He says you three are his greatest achievement."
My heart nearly broke right then and there. I had never heard anything like that come from Bruce, even if it wasn't straight from Bruce. For all I know, she could be lying, but I didn't care. Just the idea that he would say that brought tears to my eyes.
"Bruce is hard to love," Selina stated, "He has issues with emotions. Dick, he's a little better at that, but he was still raised by Batman. You know just as well as I do that you have to look through the first-several-outer layers to get to the part of them that actually means something."
I smiled, "You're right, I should have known. Thanks, Selina."
"What're friends for?"
She outstretched her arms. Gratefully, I accepted the hug. We embraced for a few moments before sirens echoed in the nearby alley. She released me, glancing behind her, "Well, that's my cue. See you later, Lulu."
"Bye, Selina."
I watched her leap to the next building. She was right, I should have known that. They weren't pushing me away, they never would. If Bruce really did say what she said he did, then he liked me a lot more than I thought he did.