Cat

Cat Chapter 1

Terry faltered for a moment as he entered the cave. He had adapted to being Batman like it was something he had done his whole life. He had fallen into the routine of heading to Wayne Manner at sundown so easily he didn't even notice how long the drive was anymore. He was so used to trotting down the stairs and only seeing Bruce and Ace - sitting in front of the computer. A new voice echoing off the walls is what made Terry pause. It was taking him a while to get used to the newest addition to their group - Tac. Bruce's grandson.

Terry didn't believe it at first, and to some degree he still didn't. He assumed his suspicions were based on the fact that Tac used to be a criminal. A rather irritating burglar that simply went by Cat. Terry would never admit he was just embarassed at how easily Cat outsmarted him so many times. And when he finally caught him and pulled his mask off he was denied justice because Bruce demanded that he bring Cat to the cave. He had questions about Tac's sudden appearance and Bruce's abrupt decision to bring him into the fold.

' If he knew he was Bruce's grandson why wait so long to find him? Why now? Where's he been for sixteen years? If he was the descendant of a long line of people with dark hair and blue eyes why did he have naturally platinum hair and green eyes? Who were his parents?'

The inquiry into his lineage had been answered immediately by Tac and endorsed by Bruce. His parents were Adrian and Jude Kyle. Adrian's mother had been none other than Selina Kyle. And he had been Bruce's biological son. Tac didn't know the exact timeline of events but Adrien and his wife Jude died in a car crash shortly after his birth - leaving him in Selina's custody. But as the years went on she discovered she had cancer. His grandmother told him of his lineage and advised him to seek out his grandfather should he ever need help. And that's what Tac did after Selina's death but not before causing trouble around Gotham for a few weeks. He spliced himself and stole everything and anything he wanted to - making it impossible to nail down a pattern. He regularly sliced gashes into Batman with those claws of his before darting away on his motorcycle. Terry was almost hoping he'd relapse into his old ways just so they could have a rematch.

"It's pill time!" Tac informed Bruce with a forced smile. He held out his hand and Bruce just looked at it. "It's the valium or my splicing serum."

"Try neither. You're turning into a junkie." Bruce said.

"Gee, who's fault do you think that is? Hmm... maybe it's the guy that took away my splicing serum and makes sure I can't get anymore." He was agitated already - Terry could hear it in his tone. His voice wasn't deep but when he got angry he got shrill until he was screaming in a higher pitch than even Dana could reach.

"You've been over dosing on it. A few more months on the amount you were taking and you'd have done permanent damage to your body. You wouldn't be able to receive regular blood transfusions if you were badly injured. Organ transplants wouldn't be an option for you if you needed one - and you definitely would because you already have acute renal failure. Luckily it can be reversed at this stage. Plus the splicing serum makes you irrational and careless." Bruce said as he typed away on the computer. Tac sighed as he crossed his arms. He glanced at Terry when he walked up.

"Can I at least go out on patrol with Terry tonight?" Tac asked.

"No." Bruce answered point blank. "You haven't finished detoxing, training, or your homework. So if you ever want to go out I suggest you start working on all three of those." Tac growled loudly as he turned around. Ace hopped up and barked at him and Tac hissed at the dog through his teeth as he walked away.

"He's in a mood today, isn't he." Terry said as he watched Tac walk upstairs. He stopped at the top and pushed hard on the clock door when it didn't open the first time.