Maternal figures

Kara had opted for a girly look to go into town, black rubber leggings, heeled boots, and a pink kisses oversized t-shirt... She smiled as she walked past the pair of photographers for TMZ who were trying to pose as a couple sitting on a bench at the bus station and sneak pictures of the famous Kara Wayne. Kara wanted to laugh at them, they clearly thought they were much more subtle than they actually were. Kara turned and walked down the side street to her second favorite shop…

*

Kara should have known she would run into Selina here… This wasn’t a sex shop, but they had the finest selection of whips in the country.

“Hello Miss Wayne, a pleasure to see you again…” Julie smiled.

“Hi Julie,” Kara smiled back, “Helping out a dominatrix?”

Julie Tran was the daughter of the owner and master crafters, the Tran Family. Story was the Vietnamese family had met while in the League of Assassins and wanted to defect when they had Julie’s Father… The Justice Society hadn’t realized what they had stumbled onto in the Vietnam Wars, but they made the opening needed for the Trans, their child and a few others that they would adopt when they made it to America. Julie was the half Vietnamese and Half Cuban daughter and primary sales woman for the high-end martial arts weapon shop.

“Miss Kyle is a very discerning customer who likes good quality,” Julie said, “Just like you and Mister Wayne.”

“You know you can call him Bruce,” Kara snickered.

“If I did that,” Julie leaned in to whisper, “My family would use the whips on me for being disrespectful.”

“Fair enough Miss Tran,” Kara smiled, “Did your uncle have any luck replicating the sword Bruce brought back from his trip?”

“The Cossak Saber? Where ever did he find a historic piece like that?” Julie said as she walked over to a desk and checkout counter.

“Ukraine I think,” Kara said, “It is the home of the Cossaks and Tartars isn’t it?”

“Well here is the original,” Julie said pulling up one box and then another, “And here is the perfectly safe replica to put on display.”

Kara pulled out a credit card and went to hand it over to Julie.

“Oh no Miss Wayne,” Julie said, “Mister Wayne already paid in advance.”

“I know,” Kara said, “This is for the extra sharp one your uncle made to test how good of a cutter it is really is.”

The sound of skip rope approaching them caused Kara and Julie to look over at Selina. In spite of wearing a tight leather pencil skirt to her knees, stiletto heeled knee boots with six-inch heels, Selina was skip roping towards them using the whip as the jump rope.

“What’s new Pussy Cat?” Selina purred.

“Well Miss Kitty,” Kara said, “What are you shopping for?”

“Jump Rope,” Selina smiled.

“To be so light on my feet,” Julie said, “You truly have the grace of a cat Miss Kyle.”

“Thank you,” Selina said, “Some girls put stripper poles in their bedroom to stay fit, I have my own exercise routine.”

“Is the craftmanship up to your standards Miss Kyle?” Julie asked.

“Oh yes, as always,” Selina said as she reached into her purse on the counter.

“So what are you up to today Miss Kyle?” Kara asked.

“I was going to steal you and give you some lessons I think Bruce is neglecting…” Selina smiled like she just stole a million dollar diamond.

“Excuse me?” Kara asked.

“You’re excused,” Selina said handing Julie her card, “Come on, I want to show you how I tailor my pitches. You are going to need to know this stuff if you want to get into high end corporate charities.”

*

“Why are we at the Phantasm’s apartment?” Kara asked in the empty closet between the elevator and door to the penthouse apartment.

“Shh,” Selina smiled, “Just watch and learn…”

“Hello?” Andrea said as she opened the door.

“Hi,” Selina extended a gloved hand, “Selina Kyle, I understand you are Miss Andrea Beaumont.”

“How can I help you?” Andrea asked.

“I am here for a little chat, about you, Bruce and Me… Mind if we have this inside?” Selina smoothly prodded.

Kara didn’t say anything but Andrea tried to get something from her in her glance before turning her attention back to Selina.

“Why not?” Andrea said stepping out of the way to allow the pair in the door.

Selina led Kara into the penthouse apartment. She had to admit, Selina in her black leather Audrey Hepburn skirt suit and boots was in impressive figure and she was milking up the effect.

“I am sure you know who I am,” Selina said looking around the place, “Nice place, lots of room.”

“Thanks,” Andrea said brushing her red hair out of the way, “Yes, Miss Kyle the charity countess of Gotham out to fleece the billionaires of their riches for charity…”

“One could say that, but you know about how Bruce feels about me in public…” Selina turned and looked Andrea in the eyes, “You know because you use to be in my shoes…”

“The next Mrs Wayne…” Andrea’s eyes narrowed.

“You tell yourself that you are sizing me up to fight me,” Selina smiled, “Either with your nails or those nasty gloves from your drag suit… But in reality a part of you, that you don’t want to acknowledge is stacking my body against yours wondering what it would be like to touch, caress, kiss… to love.”

Andrea stepped back. But Kara and Selina could see that Selina had struck a nerve.

“I am sure you were expecting me to come up here and tell you something trite, like ‘hands off my man,’ or something like that,” Selina said, “But that isn’t the message at all, yes the bat is my catnip, but I am not that greedy, I like playing with a variety of toys and what man doesn’t want his wife to set up threesome nights for them?”

Andrea looked to Kara and then back to Selina.

“No she is much to young,” Selina said, “She is here to watch her momma in action and learn some tricks to improve her own harem of lovers. Kara has already figured out her truth and I think it is time you accepted that reality yourself.”

“And what is that?” Andrea asked.

“Ten percent of women are hard wired lesbians, ten percent are hard wired straight girls,” Selina said as she walked around Andrea before leaning in and whispering in Andrea’s ear, “And the other eighty get off on playing with both boys and girls, but society tells us that is wrong…”

Selina gave Andrea a peck on the cheek and giggled as she stepped away from the stunned redhead.

“If you want another romp with Bruce,” Selina said, “Give me a call and I’ll put you down for auditions. We are going to need some lovely ladies to keep up his playboy cover after the wedding… Come along Kara.”

Kara was flabbergasted, it took a second for her to shake out of the trance the performance had put her in. Kara half walked, half floated out the door after Selina and into the elevator. Neither said anything until they elevator car was halfway to the lobby.

“Twenty bucks says she calls me for a shag before dinner,” Selina smiled like the cat that ate the canary.

“I expected her to tear you apart with her ax hand,” Kara said.

“She probably expected a catfight, meow,” Selina snickered, “But no, the real lesson here is reading your target and picking up on things they are hiding from themselves, such as tendencies they have been told to be ashamed of.”

“OK…” Kara said.

“Let me guess,” Selina said, “Back in your home town when you first learned about the birds and the bees they explained men and women as default because of reproductive biology and psychology? It takes a man and woman humping around the ancient campfires before you can get to advanced cities of flying cars?”

“Something like that,” Kara said, “Not really in those terms…”

“Ten, Eighty, Ten,” Selina said, “Ten percent of women are hardwired straight, ten percent are hardwired lesbians, and eighty can play both sides, but…”

“Because of societal socialization and the continued norm of reproductive biology dictating heterosexuality they are presented with the notion that to be average, they must engage in heterosexual relationships,” Kara finished the thought in her own Kryptonian thinking.

“Andrea has never come to terms with her own curiosity,” Selina said, “She has used the excuse of being drunk to make out with random chicks at the bar, even debated hiring a hooker for a one nighter in a hotel is some city she will leave in the morning and never be back too. But she never allowed herself to really open up and she holds on to her memories of Bruce and how her actions drove a wedge between their pure love… so she hates herself even more when that nagging part of her brain asks what would sex with that girl be like?”

“And you are using that to put her on her knees begging for a collar and leash?” Kara prodded.

“Of course,” Selina said, “I expect you to use that same trick to expand your harem when the time comes.”

“What makes you think I am going to keep a harem?” Kara asked.

“All your girlfriends with benefits?” Selina asked back, “Your secrete dates with my other understudy?”

Kara blanched.

“Speaking of which,” Selina pulled her phone out and smiled, “Lets up Minxy Maven’s Mechanical Tail to… say… seven?”

“You know about Me and Maven?” Kara asked.

“You and Maven, the three ways with Barbara or Tula?” Selina said.

*

“What’s wrong?” Jason asked as he got in the SUV.

“Do you ever think of Selina as a Mother Figure?” Kara asked as she waited for Jason to put on his seatbelt.

“She is MILF porn fodder,” Jason agreed.

“No,” Kara gave Jason a sour look, “You really can be an asshole at times.”

“What?” Jason said, “Don’t pretend she it’s self-admitted Sex Ideal.”

“Yeah, but,” Kara said, “Do you ever think of Selina as a mother figure? Like Bruce is a sort of father figure?”

“I don’t know,” Jason said, “Maybe I think of Kate more as the mother figure in my life now.”

“Ok,” Kara said, “You wanted to call me mom just now to get under my skin.”

“No shit,” Jason said, “But I resisted so lets go.”

“I am still waiting for you to put on your seatbelt… JUNIOR,” Kara said, “You aren’t Kryptonian you know.”

Kara watched him buckle up and looked around. She noted Raven watching as they departed. That was to be expected, what was unexpected was Rose Worth watching them. Kara didn’t say anything. Something about that girl’s glare reminded her of a very bad night.

*

“Spent the day with Selina?” Alfred didn’t really ask.

“I ran into her and she decided I should watch her work to take notes,” Kara said.

“And what did you learn?” Alfred smiled as he put the glass of water on the island for Kara.

“I have a screwed us sense of family?” Kara mulled the idea aloud.

“How so?” Alfred.

“I know Bruce doesn’t want us to call him dad,” Kara started.

“But he is a father figure to you in your current daily life,” Alfred said.

“Yeah,” Kara said.

“I suppose Commissioner Gordon is your ‘Uncle Jack,’ then,” Alfred smiled.

“Uncle who?” Kara asked.

“Uncle Jack,” Alfred smiled, “When I was a lad there was a series of book one the main characters was a close friend of the hero’s father so he was called ‘Uncle Jack’ despite them not being related.”

“Yeah I guess Gordon would be my Uncle Jack then,” Kara said.

“And what happened with Miss Kyle that sparked this introspection?” Alfred prepared another glass of lemonade.

“Selina called me out on something and it reminded me of my mom telling me she new I was not doing my school work for the Science Academy,” Kara said.

“The disappointed mother cliché?” Alfred noted.

“I guess so,” Kara said.

“Hay Alfred,” Jason said coming into the kitchen, “Do we have any… oh. Thank you.”

Jason had already changed out of the school uniform into jeans and a t-shirt.

“You know Megan loves your lemonade,” Jason smiled, “Thanks.”

“Master Jason… take a coaster with you,” Alfred said.

Jason grabbed a coaster and went off to do the reading for his classes. Kara took a seat on a stool on the outside of the island.

“Do you think Bruce and Andrea could reconcile?” Kara asked.

“I don’t know my dear,” Alfred said, “Their lives are so much different now.”

“How do you think Selina punishes Maven and Holly when they misbehave?” Kara asked.

“I can say I don’t even want to consider that,” Alfred said.

“I am sure it is perverted,” Kara rolled her eyes and finished her glass of water.

*

“Lina?” Holly shouted, “I am studying fashion design, why are you making me do Trigonometry?”

“It’s punishment for cutting your classes!” Selina snapped back.

“Man…” Holly hung her head.

*

Bruce walked in and looked at Kara sitting on the couch reading her book for corporate law classes. She was barefoot, but still wore the leggings and t-shirt.

“Saturday, I have to go to DC,” Bruce announced, “Have you contacted Clark?”

“Not yet,” Kara said, “Did you want me to call him?”

“It is up to you,” Bruce said, “I will try to be back as soon as I can Saturday.”

“Should I fly?” Kara asked.

Bruce looked at Kara.

“I meant GSR to KGI,” Kara said.

“Car would take about the six hours,” Bruce admitted.

“I could fly there in two minutes in my Batgirl get up,” Kara said.

Bruce looked at Kara.

“I know how you feel about that,” Kara said, “I was just saying.”

“I know,” Bruce said, “How are you doing with the school work?”

“Corporate Law,” Kara said, “Might as well be smacking myself in the face with it. Mind numbing doesn’t begin to cover it.”

“I know,” Bruce said taking the book from Kara, “That’s why I hire teams of lawyers to deal with the details. Incorporation Charters.”

“Yeah,” Kara said.

A message pinged on Bruce and Kara’s special phones. Both looked at their phones.

“Shit,” Kara noted, “Well at least Jason is going to be excited to hunt down the Riddle bitches tonight.”

“Echo, Querry and Enigma…” Bruce took a deep breath, “And with out Nigma to provide anything resembling restraint and tact…”

“Didn’t we already have a riot this week,” Kara put the book over her face as she leaned back.