Although the catsuit was sleek and form-fitting, it wasn't easy to put on. Selina struggled with it for several minutes, tugging the zipper up inch by inch. The upper part, in particular, proved to be a problem—her curves made it nearly impossible to close.
With a sigh, Adrian stepped closer, his tone deceptively calm. "Need a hand?"
Selina's eyes flickered, and a dangerous thought flashed through her mind. As he reached out to help with the zipper, she twisted her hips and kicked toward his crotch—fast, sharp, and precise.
But Adrian moved faster. Effortlessly sidestepping, he caught her by the wrist, spun her off balance, and before she could even gasp, his lips crushed against hers.
The fury simmering inside him—the kind sparked earlier that evening—found its release in that fierce kiss.
Selina tried to push him away, but his strength was overwhelming, his presence radiating something almost inhuman.
By the time he released her, she was breathless, her face flushed crimson.
It took her several moments to regain her composure. With trembling hands, she finally zipped the suit to the top, sealing herself inside the tight, glossy black material.
"So," she hissed, glaring at him with a mix of fury and embarrassment, "satisfied, you bastard?"
Adrian gave a small, indifferent smile. "More or less."
Turning away, he straightened his collar and said calmly, "You can stay here for now. Those thugs won't dare come back. Wait until nightfall, then use that suit to disappear into the dark."
Selina folded her arms, glaring at his retreating back. "Generous, aren't you?"
But as he disappeared beyond the doorway, her emotions shifted between anger, confusion, and something she didn't want to name.
Who exactly was this man?
That power, it wasn't something an ordinary human possessed.
When night came, Selina slipped out of the Gotham Grand Hotel. The city's lights flickered below like restless fireflies, and the smog-covered moon cast long shadows over the rooftops.
She made her way to her old apartment, checking every corner before entering. Only after confirming it was empty did she finally allow herself to breathe.
Inside, she leaned against the door, closed her eyes, and exhaled slowly. The faint scent of old paint and cigarette smoke filled the room. Gotham's decay was everywhere—it never really left.
She walked into the bathroom and began peeling off the bodysuit.
Her reflection in the mirror froze her mid-motion.
Across her fair skin, faint black markings appeared. Words—letters—burned into her like invisible ink now revealed. They spelled one name: HOMELANDER.
The marks ran across her shoulders, back, thighs, even the curve of her chest.
Her jaw clenched. "That bastard…"
The word Homelander burned in her mind. Was that his name? His alias?
She rubbed at the marks furiously, but they wouldn't come off. They weren't just printed—they were embedded.
After scrubbing herself raw under scalding water, she finally gave up.
She changed into another suit and slipped out into the night again, this time heading toward the Gotham Orphanage.
The building hadn't changed much—cracked walls, flickering lights, and that same eerie silence that haunted her childhood.
Sneaking through a window, she found a small red-haired girl asleep on a narrow bed.
"Happy birthday, Holly," Selina whispered with a rare softness.
The girl stirred awake, smiling sleepily as Selina pulled a silver coin from her pocket. "This is for you. Small, but it'll give you courage when you need it most."
It was a coin she'd lifted from Adrian's wallet—a parting trophy, just like any thief's code demanded.
"Thank you, Selina," Holly said brightly, holding the coin under the moonlight. The silver shimmered, revealing the intricate carving of an owl.
Selina frowned. "An owl?"
"I think I've seen it before," the girl murmured, tilting her head. "Not the coin exactly, but… I heard about it. Batman fought someone in the alley near here—a man with an umbrella."
Selina's expression darkened. The Umbrella Man.
A man who could take on Batman and walk away.
Her thoughts spiraled. The umbrella, the power, the arrogance—it all fit. Adrian.
So that's who he was.
And if he had ties to that mysterious symbol of the Owl… things were about to get far more dangerous than she imagined.
---
Meanwhile, at the Iceberg Lounge, the most extravagant auction in Gotham was underway. Crystal chandeliers glowed above marble floors as the city's elite whispered over champagne and smuggled art.
Bruce Wayne, all charm and tailored perfection, was in conversation with a business partner.
"Yes, I know of March Ventures," Bruce said smoothly. "They handle the East Leslie Medical Satellites, don't they?"
His tone was light, but his eyes were always watching, always calculating.
"Mr. Wayne," a familiar gravelly voice interrupted.
Bruce turned. Oswald Cobblepot—the Penguin—approached with his usual smug grin.
"Allow me to introduce a new face in town," Penguin said proudly. "Mr. Adrian Kent."
Bruce's gaze shifted to the tall man beside him.
Adrian smiled faintly. "Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Wayne."
The handshake was firm, deliberate.
For a brief second, Bruce's memory sparked—the jawline, the voice. It was him. The man from the alley. The one who fought Batman and walked away unscathed.
He masked his reaction behind a polite smile. "Likewise."
"Tell me," Adrian said with a casual tone that didn't match the intensity behind his eyes, "what do you think of Gotham?"
Bruce kept his voice level. "What is Gotham? A home? A cage? Maybe both. But I'd like to think it's improving—one day at a time."
Adrian chuckled softly. "Optimism looks good on you."
Before Bruce could respond, his attention shifted—because entering the room in a long black gown was Selina Kyle.
She looked stunning, her entire body covered in silk and shadow. But the moment she spotted Adrian, her pulse spiked.
Not him. Not here.
She tried to slip away, but his voice caught her like a lasso.
"Miss Selina," Adrian called smoothly, his smile faint but commanding. "We meet again."
Her jaw tightened. "What do you want this time? Another round of humiliation?"
"No," he said simply. "I just need a partner for the evening. You'll do."
He offered his arm.
Bruce frowned, glancing between them, clearly uncomfortable.
Selina hesitated—but the intensity in Adrian's eyes told her there was no real choice.
Gritting her teeth, she linked arms with him.
Adrian's superhuman senses picked up Bruce's micro-expressions—curiosity, frustration, and something darker.
Interesting.
He knew then that Bruce Wayne's mask was slipping. Batman's knightly facade was still young, still uncertain.
And Adrian? He couldn't help but enjoy twisting the knife just a little.
Before anyone could speak further, Penguin's voice echoed through the hall:
"Ladies and gentlemen! Tonight, we unveil something truly remarkable—a collection of rare jewels and artifacts!"
As the stage lights revealed the gleaming Owl crystal, both Bruce and Selina froze.
That symbol again.
The Court of Owls had returned to Gotham.
And in that instant, Adrian's faint smile widened.