2| 𝙊𝙪𝙩𝙩𝙖 𝘼𝙧𝙠𝙝𝙖𝙢 |

| Chapter X | lovebugs

Reine met up with Cat, but she was empty-handed.

"What happened? Where's the stuff?"

"Jim Gordon came over, we agreed he wouldn't hurt her just as long as we don't get involved."

"You can't possibly think I'd agree to do that."

"Just trust me okay? This is for Bridgit."

"One day. I'm giving a maximum of one day before I take this into my own hands. Even if it means going back to Arkham."

Later they found out that Bridgit had burned her brothers to death and the cops were outside their place. They went to where Cat and Bridgit fed the birds. They found Bridgit there. She was working on her flamethrower.

"We must have spent years up here, watching these birds. Remember when Mickey Slattery called us orphan bastards and we tried to throw him off the roof?"

Bridgit stayed silent, focused on her flamethrower.

"The cops are outside my place. You need to get out of town."

"I'm not scared of them."

"Bridgit, I know what you did to your brothers. Not that they didn't deserve it, but... whoa."

"I was surprised. Cale flamed up good, but it was Joe who burned the brightest."

"Oh, that's so cool."

Cat gave Reine a look.

"I mean still a crime, but cool."

"You don't sound like yourself."

"I'm not myself anymore. I'm free. Just like you told me I was."

"So what are you gonna do?"

"I'm gonna go after the rest of them." 

"The rest of who?"

"The perves and the bullies. The ones who hurt people like us."

"No one's ever gone after me or hurt me."

"Yeah, right."

"Rule number one, look after number one. That's you. Don't be crazy, or you'll get yourself killed."

"Don't worry about me. This is what I was meant to do."

"Bridgit, please, don't do this."

"It's nice to have someone who cares about me. Thank you."

"I don't care. I just think you're being dumb. But, hey. Good luck."

Cat was walking away when she raced back and gave Bridgit a hug.

"I'll see you around."

With that, Selina left Reine and Bridgit alone.

"Look, I'm not going to tell you what to do because I'm literally the last person you should ask. If you ask me it's kinda crazy, but I like crazy. Just don't get caught or killed. And when this is all over give me a call. I'd be happy to spend another night with you."

Before Reine left she pulled her into a tight hug.

"See you later, Firebug."

Reine went to meet up with Cat. The cops were gone from their place.

"So what happened with you and Bridgit last night?"

"Nothing much."

"Really? I don't believe that."

"We had a couple of drinks, played a few games, hung out. We kissed, but that's all. She got drunk really easily so... She fell asleep in my arms. It was fun though. I really enjoyed it."

"I'm glad."

Later on in the night, Cat left, after a while, she came back. With bad news about Bridgit, she was dead.

"I'm sorry Reine. I know you two have grown real close."

"It's fine. I mean what did I think was going to happen? I'm sorry Cat... but I'm leaving."

"Why? What happened to Bridgit wasn't your fault."

"Because it just seems that anyone I get close to ends up dead. And I'm not letting you die too. "

"You don't have to worry about me. Reine, look at me. I won't get myself killed, you know that. Let's talk about what this really about."

"What are you talking about?"

"You're still heartbroken over that ginger maniac."

Tears filled Reine's eyes.

"I held mother in my arms as she died. I held Jerome as he died. I saw the life leave their eyes, I felt the life leave their bodies."

"Reine-"

"I'm not heartbroken over Jerome, he wasn't my first and he won't be the last. He was just different. He was my friend and my lover. So his death does hurt, but doesn't stop me from living."

"I never told anyone this, but please stay."

"I guess, after all, life would boring without me. I'm glad you're my friend Kitty-cat."

"Yeah, whatever."