AngelQueen
11-16-2002, 11:43 AM
A Bird-Cat Thing
By AngelQueen
Disclaimer: Birds of Prey, it's characters and concepts are the property of Warner Brothers, Tollin-Robbins Productions & DC Comics.
Character(s): Barbara
Summary: Barbara remembers why Black Canary and Catwoman didn’t get along with one another.
*!*!*!*!*
A bird-cat thing. Why did I tell Helena that it was a bird-cat thing? That has to be even lamer than muffin cover story.
I stare at the monitor in front of me. I’d pulled up the ‘photo album’ that I’d made over the years on here and had searched relentlessly through the many pages until I’d found two specific ones.
In the first, a young-and happy-Selina stood with her arm draped on Bruce’s, while he gave the camera an indulgent, content smile. They’re standing on the steps of Wayne manor, the door open and allowing a lamp’s light to spill out. I can’t help but smile myself. I’d taken this picture, just before the two of them had left for some gala or another. I’d been with Selina all that day, trying to help her find the perfect gown for that night…
“No,” Selina shook her head.
Nodding, I put the green evening gown back on the rack where it had come from. Next I held up a red spaghetti-strap dress. Maybe this would be the one.
“No.”
Raising an eyebrow, this dress went the way of the last one. The last ten dresses, actually. Next, I pulled up a blue strapless gown made of silk.
Selina stared at it, her ice-blue eyes narrowed slightly. After a moment, she shook her head. “We’re getting closer, but not quite,” she stated.
I sighed. She was doing this to me on purpose. She had to be. We’d been in at least ten different dress shops in different parts of Gotham. I was tired, cranky, and thirsty. But I knew Selina wouldn’t stop until she had the perfect dress.
Resigned to my fate, I held up the last one in the pile that I’d collected from various parts of the store: a shimmering black dress that had a lacy, translucent bow that hung down almost to the hem. Personally, I found it to be a bit too flashy, but I wouldn’t be the one wearing it.
Thank god.
I looked up to Selina and found that her eyes had lit up. “That’s it, Barb,” she exclaimed. “That’s the dress!”
I nodded and handed it to her, rolling my eyes in the process. We’d gone through at least five other black dresses, all of them similar to that one. Why couldn’t she have taken one of those?
Watching Selina rush to the cashier, dress in hand, I can only shake my head. It figures that this woman would be the one to capture the heart of Bruce Wayne. She was just as eccentric as he was.
They deserved one another.
That night, mere moments after I’d taken that picture, I’d spotted Carolyn peeking out of the grandfather clock that hid the house entrance to the Bat Cave. I wasn’t surprised that she was in the Cave. Carolyn could often be found there, researching some case or training in the simulators. She could be just as dedicated to the mission as Bruce, when she truly concentrated.
No, what surprised me was the sullen look she was bestowing on Selina, who was seemingly unaware that she was being watched.
I joined Carolyn in the Cave after waving Bruce and Selina off, but I said nothing on how I’d seen her glaring viciously at Selina. Heck, she was older than I, more experienced. I wasn’t about to challenge her on anything at the moment. Still, that was merely the first time I noticed that some tension was beginning to build between Selina and Carolyn.
And it wasn’t just limited to their regular identities…
I quickly flipped over the space between the various buildings, then raced across the rooftops. The moon was the only object to light my way, but I knew what I was doing; I had run this gauntlet many times before.
I landed one final time on a roof. I heard the sounds of scuffling nearby. Darting silently towards the sounds, I was shocked at what I found.
Black Canary and Catwoman were fighting one another, tooth-and-nail. I watched, frozen in place, as the two exchanged a variety of punches and kicks. Neither of them was giving any ground, nor were they able to take any from the other. And while they fought this dangerous fight of theirs, I could hear them exchanging throwing snide remarks at one another.
“So, the little birdie wants to fight the pretty kitty,” Catwoman said condescendingly as she flicked her whip at the other woman.
“Not really,” Canary sneered darkly. “But I’m not letting you get away with those jewels. You already get everything-and everyone-you want. This time, you’re not getting them. Just go home, Kitty Lady.”
I blinked, my eyes growing. Canary was becoming dangerously close to revealing her identity, as well as everyone else on the team. We were all well aware that Selina Kyle and Catwoman were one and the same, but since Batman only took to stopping her heists, never arresting her, every one of us never did any more than that.
And here was Canary fighting-and baiting-Catwoman.
The woman obviously didn’t notice the reference, or preferred to ignore it. They exchanged several more blows, before I decided to step in.
I jumped from my hidden perch and landed only a few feet away from them. Emotionlessly, I spoke, “Leave, Catwoman. The police are already on their way here. If you do not wish to be caught, I suggest that you vacate the premises.”
The Queen of the Criminal Underworld gazed at me for several seconds. Finally, she nodded to me, then turned back to Canary, who stood panting a small distance away.
Just before she jumped away, Catwoman smiled sweetly at her and said, “Cats have only one use for birds, young one: a source of food for them and their young. Do not interfere with me again.”
When she was gone, I turned to Canary, who was still silent. I stared at her penetratingly, then hissed, “You could have let her know our secret identities, you know. You could have jeopardized all of us. What were you thinking?”
For a brief moment, Canary said nothing. I think she was surprised that I’d said something like that to her. Normally, I acted in awe of her, but now I was lecturing her, which she did not take kindly to.
Glaring at me, she replied harshly, “I don’t have to take this. I’m out of here.” Without another word, she began the trek back to the Cave.
I watched her go, wondering if I should speak to Batman about this. The rivalry that was springing up between Selina and Carolyn as well as Catwoman and Black Canary was becoming a hazard to us all. But, if I did so, I would be betraying what remaining confidence Canary had in me.
In the end, I said nothing. I merely continued to hope that things would work out…
By AngelQueen
Disclaimer: Birds of Prey, it's characters and concepts are the property of Warner Brothers, Tollin-Robbins Productions & DC Comics.
Character(s): Barbara
Summary: Barbara remembers why Black Canary and Catwoman didn’t get along with one another.
*!*!*!*!*
A bird-cat thing. Why did I tell Helena that it was a bird-cat thing? That has to be even lamer than muffin cover story.
I stare at the monitor in front of me. I’d pulled up the ‘photo album’ that I’d made over the years on here and had searched relentlessly through the many pages until I’d found two specific ones.
In the first, a young-and happy-Selina stood with her arm draped on Bruce’s, while he gave the camera an indulgent, content smile. They’re standing on the steps of Wayne manor, the door open and allowing a lamp’s light to spill out. I can’t help but smile myself. I’d taken this picture, just before the two of them had left for some gala or another. I’d been with Selina all that day, trying to help her find the perfect gown for that night…
“No,” Selina shook her head.
Nodding, I put the green evening gown back on the rack where it had come from. Next I held up a red spaghetti-strap dress. Maybe this would be the one.
“No.”
Raising an eyebrow, this dress went the way of the last one. The last ten dresses, actually. Next, I pulled up a blue strapless gown made of silk.
Selina stared at it, her ice-blue eyes narrowed slightly. After a moment, she shook her head. “We’re getting closer, but not quite,” she stated.
I sighed. She was doing this to me on purpose. She had to be. We’d been in at least ten different dress shops in different parts of Gotham. I was tired, cranky, and thirsty. But I knew Selina wouldn’t stop until she had the perfect dress.
Resigned to my fate, I held up the last one in the pile that I’d collected from various parts of the store: a shimmering black dress that had a lacy, translucent bow that hung down almost to the hem. Personally, I found it to be a bit too flashy, but I wouldn’t be the one wearing it.
Thank god.
I looked up to Selina and found that her eyes had lit up. “That’s it, Barb,” she exclaimed. “That’s the dress!”
I nodded and handed it to her, rolling my eyes in the process. We’d gone through at least five other black dresses, all of them similar to that one. Why couldn’t she have taken one of those?
Watching Selina rush to the cashier, dress in hand, I can only shake my head. It figures that this woman would be the one to capture the heart of Bruce Wayne. She was just as eccentric as he was.
They deserved one another.
That night, mere moments after I’d taken that picture, I’d spotted Carolyn peeking out of the grandfather clock that hid the house entrance to the Bat Cave. I wasn’t surprised that she was in the Cave. Carolyn could often be found there, researching some case or training in the simulators. She could be just as dedicated to the mission as Bruce, when she truly concentrated.
No, what surprised me was the sullen look she was bestowing on Selina, who was seemingly unaware that she was being watched.
I joined Carolyn in the Cave after waving Bruce and Selina off, but I said nothing on how I’d seen her glaring viciously at Selina. Heck, she was older than I, more experienced. I wasn’t about to challenge her on anything at the moment. Still, that was merely the first time I noticed that some tension was beginning to build between Selina and Carolyn.
And it wasn’t just limited to their regular identities…
I quickly flipped over the space between the various buildings, then raced across the rooftops. The moon was the only object to light my way, but I knew what I was doing; I had run this gauntlet many times before.
I landed one final time on a roof. I heard the sounds of scuffling nearby. Darting silently towards the sounds, I was shocked at what I found.
Black Canary and Catwoman were fighting one another, tooth-and-nail. I watched, frozen in place, as the two exchanged a variety of punches and kicks. Neither of them was giving any ground, nor were they able to take any from the other. And while they fought this dangerous fight of theirs, I could hear them exchanging throwing snide remarks at one another.
“So, the little birdie wants to fight the pretty kitty,” Catwoman said condescendingly as she flicked her whip at the other woman.
“Not really,” Canary sneered darkly. “But I’m not letting you get away with those jewels. You already get everything-and everyone-you want. This time, you’re not getting them. Just go home, Kitty Lady.”
I blinked, my eyes growing. Canary was becoming dangerously close to revealing her identity, as well as everyone else on the team. We were all well aware that Selina Kyle and Catwoman were one and the same, but since Batman only took to stopping her heists, never arresting her, every one of us never did any more than that.
And here was Canary fighting-and baiting-Catwoman.
The woman obviously didn’t notice the reference, or preferred to ignore it. They exchanged several more blows, before I decided to step in.
I jumped from my hidden perch and landed only a few feet away from them. Emotionlessly, I spoke, “Leave, Catwoman. The police are already on their way here. If you do not wish to be caught, I suggest that you vacate the premises.”
The Queen of the Criminal Underworld gazed at me for several seconds. Finally, she nodded to me, then turned back to Canary, who stood panting a small distance away.
Just before she jumped away, Catwoman smiled sweetly at her and said, “Cats have only one use for birds, young one: a source of food for them and their young. Do not interfere with me again.”
When she was gone, I turned to Canary, who was still silent. I stared at her penetratingly, then hissed, “You could have let her know our secret identities, you know. You could have jeopardized all of us. What were you thinking?”
For a brief moment, Canary said nothing. I think she was surprised that I’d said something like that to her. Normally, I acted in awe of her, but now I was lecturing her, which she did not take kindly to.
Glaring at me, she replied harshly, “I don’t have to take this. I’m out of here.” Without another word, she began the trek back to the Cave.
I watched her go, wondering if I should speak to Batman about this. The rivalry that was springing up between Selina and Carolyn as well as Catwoman and Black Canary was becoming a hazard to us all. But, if I did so, I would be betraying what remaining confidence Canary had in me.
In the end, I said nothing. I merely continued to hope that things would work out…