Arthur and Selina walked out of the building calmly, as if nothing had happened on the upper floors. She had already changed into her iconic tight leather outfit, like a feline ready to pounce. The silent heels and the mask gave her a hypnotic presence — a blend of mystery and menace.
Arthur passed through the reception area first, tossing a stack of bills onto the counter. The receptionist, whose head was trembling under the marble desk, slowly rose with wide eyes full of shock. Earlier, a group of armed men had stormed in violently. Now, seeing this couple walking out so casually... it was clear the criminals had met a rather unpleasant end.
"Could you take care of the cleanup?" Arthur asked with a smirk.
The receptionist swallowed hard, unable to answer, but nodded anyway.
Arthur then placed a second bundle on the counter. "Thanks for your hard work."
Outside, the black motorcycle Arthur had rented was waiting beneath a broken streetlamp. He got on with ease, adjusting his gloves. Selina didn't hesitate for a second before hopping on behind him. Her arms slid around his waist with overly familiar ease, and she gently rested her chin on Arthur's shoulder.
"Miss Kyle," he said, trying to sound serious. "I don't think we know each other well enough for that kind of intimacy."
"Shut up and drive, cowboy," she replied with a lazy smirk. "I'm starting to think you're stalling just to enjoy having my warm body pressed against yours."
Arthur opened his mouth to retort but no words came out. Instead, he sighed and turned the ignition key. The bike roared into Gotham's gothic night.
---
Not long after, the two arrived at the entrance of an old abandoned factory, one of the many meeting points for the Black Mask Syndicate.
(This is becoming a routine...) Arthur thought, eyeing the structure corroded by time and crime. Abandoned factories seemed like the natural habitat for Gotham's filth.
"Why is it always an abandoned factory, huh?" he grumbled aloud, frowning.
"Because criminals have terrible taste in real estate," Selina replied, hopping off the bike with a feline's grace. She turned and looked over her shoulder. "Aren't you going to hide that pretty face of yours?"
Arthur rolled his eyes but made a subtle hand gesture. From his treasure dimension — the Gate of Babylon — a white mask floated out and landed in his palm. He put it on.
"Let's get this over with."
Without waiting for a reply, Arthur walked past her, his firm steps echoing on the damp concrete of the alley. Selina followed, eyes curious, a teasing smile playing on her lips.
---
Inside the factory
The air was thick, heavy with mildew and gunpowder. Criminals in black masks waited restlessly around crates filled with weapons, drugs, and stacks of cash. One of them, seemingly in charge, stared anxiously at the warehouse entrance.
"Why haven't they come back yet? Still chasing that thing?" one asked.
Before anyone could answer, one of the lookouts pointed urgently. "There! They're coming!"
"Wait... those aren't our guys! That's the pair who hit the Penguin!"
"Doesn't matter! Shoot!!"
The sound of gunfire echoed like thunder. Bullets zipped through the air, sparks flew from metal beams. Selina leapt to the side with feline agility, climbing the rafters and vanishing into the shadows like a ghost.
Arthur, on the other hand, kept walking — unfazed — through the gunfire.
Then he ran.
As he closed in on the masked men, he showed no mercy.
A right hook shattered the jaw of the first one. A spinning kick sent two others crashing into the wall. Arthur moved like a force of nature — too fast for the eye, too strong for their bones. Screams, bone-cracking blows, and heavy thuds filled the space like a storm of violence.
One thug swung at him with a metal bar, but Arthur dodged by mere inches and countered with a gut punch so brutal it made the man vomit blood.
In less than thirty seconds, silence reigned.
Selina descended from the rafters, landing lightly beside him.
"Don't you think that was... a bit cruel?" she asked, casually leaning against his back.
"I thought you'd be scared," he replied, wiping blood from his hands.
"I have a personal grudge against Black Mask, so I've got no reason to pity them," she retorted, walking over to one of the open crates. She rummaged through it until she found a black briefcase full of neatly stacked dollar bills. The other crates held weapons, drugs, and stolen gadgets.
Selina glanced over her shoulder at him with a mischievous smile.
"Besides... there's something about you that brings out my feline instincts." She traced her finger teasingly along her chin.
(...)
"Since we're done here... how about a drink? Something to celebrate?" she asked, already tugging on his arm like a reluctant boyfriend.
(This woman is impossible...) Arthur thought, only half-resisting her charm. Half.
---
Shortly after the two left the scene, the shadowy figure of Batman emerged from the darkness. His cape fluttered like a specter in the night. The white eyes under his cowl quickly scanned the scene: unconscious bodies, clearly broken bones, destroyed equipment.
"Judging by the brutality... whoever did this has a personal issue with Black Mask..."
He knelt beside one of the unconscious criminals. A quick scan brought up a database entry in his lens.
"Could it be the same masked man from before?" he murmured.
---
Hotel Bella Monica — Later that same night
At the front desk, Arthur sighed and said:
"Two separate rooms, please."
Selina cut in without hesitation. "Actually... we'll be taking just one room."
Arthur raised an eyebrow.
(She's got to be kidding me...)
The receptionist looked between them, unsure who to listen to.
Arthur tried to intervene. "What exactly are you trying to do, Selina?"
She didn't answer him. Instead, she turned to the receptionist with an innocent smile.
"Sorry, my boyfriend and I had a little fight earlier, but we've already made up. One room is fine, thank you."
Arthur opened his mouth to protest, but before he could speak, Selina covered his lips with her hand and gave him a playful wink.
(So that's how you want to play...) he thought, narrowing his eyes.
Eventually, they went up to the room.
Inside, Selina grabbed the briefcase and, without hesitation, handed Arthur half the cash.
"You did the heavy lifting. I'm just the charm of the operation," she said, sitting on the edge of the bed and crossing her legs.
"You're sleeping on the couch. I'm taking the bed," Arthur replied coldly, tossing a pillow onto the armchair.
"Ugh. What a gentleman you are," she muttered.
"I'm not trying to impress anyone."
Selina stepped closer, her eyes locked onto his, voice like velvet:
"Are you sure you don't want to have an unforgettable night with me?"
"Absolutely. Good night."
Without waiting for a reply, Arthur walked into the bedroom and shut the door behind him. Through the crack, Selina still managed to hear the sound of a pillow being adjusted and a long, bored sigh.
Selina stared at the closed door for a few seconds, stunned.
"...That was new."
Scoffing, she kicked off her heels into the corner of the room and muttered to herself with a half-smile:
"Hmph! Let's see how long you can resist."
---
(End of Chapter)
"Hmph. If you really want to be useful, then entertain me, try to throw those pathetic power stones at me. Let's see if even your insolence can amuse a king."