Selina should've realized that this would be so hard to keep a secret.

      She's pretty good at keeping secrets. It's her specialty. Her foster family don't know even half of the things she's been through on the streets. They don't know of what she experienced that caused her to be so closed off and despise love.

      But they still managed to break down that door and make her soften.

      She hated at first but something would flutter inside of her when Freddy would give her a big smile, sit down close to her so their shoulders were touching and showing her the new superhero he's been drawing recently.

      But this secret was becoming a lot harder to keep.

      Especially when Freddy declared to her later that night that he wanted to find out who's been writing those letters.

      "I'm sorry, what?" Selina said with an eyebrow raised, trying to remain her composure as she looked at him over her laptop where she had been doing her homework.

      "I wanna find out who they are!" Freddy repeated, tossing his crutch gracelessly beside him after he sat down on her bed beside her. "And I need your help with that!"

      The thief's throat felt dry, making her swallow. "Okay...how the hell am I supposed to help you anyway?"

      "Well, I figured that maybe you could be able to figure out who's writing it. Ya know, being sneaky or just figure out the handwriting. Maybe even notice the writing style of the poem."

      "Freddy, I don't have a single romantic bone in my body." Selina used to believe that...but those letters said otherwise. "I really don't see how I can help. I mean, who knows when this person is putting the letters in your locker!"

      "I find them during lunch. So the person must be doing this before lunch but after my third period class because when I get my books from my locker, the letters aren't there." He concluded, her brain spinning as she tried to find a way to shut this all down.

       "Easy there, Superman," Selina started, closing her laptop before facing him more, "you said that these letters are anonymous, right?" He nodded. "So don't you think that the person writing them wants to be, ya know...anonymous?"

      He blinked, almost like this was a shocking revelation to him. "But...I want to know who it is!"

      She sighed loudly. "But the person doesn't want you to know. They want to...be behind the scenes."

      "Why would they want to be anonymous anyway?" He asked, almost incredulously.

      She paused for a moment. "The fear of rejection? Unreciprocated feelings? There are many reasons as to why they wouldn't want you to know."

      He sighed, running a hand through his black curls. "Why couldn't they drop hints on their identity in the letters? That would've been so cool!"

      She giggled, nudging her foot against his hip playfully. "Not everyone can be that cool, Freeman. Only you."

      He chuckled, casually resting a hand on top of her foot as she fought to keep her composure because of how close they were. "I mean...I get it. I do. But...I really wanna know who this person is." Freddy said, looking at her with those soft eyes that made her melt.

      Selina looked at him before putting a hand over his. "Just enjoy the moment. Enjoy the letters. Don't worry about who's behind the mask."

      He nodded, going quiet before a little smirk grew on his face. "You think Superman might be writing new these secret admirer notes?"

      She wasn't able to contain her laughter, nearly doubling over as they both started laughing at the incredibly stupid joke. Selina was nowhere near Superman, but she still found it hilarious.

      Everything seemed to be going fine for the Gothamite. It seemed that her dirty little secret was still hidden, no chance of being revealed. Everything was perfect.

       Until that night where she had a nightmare.

      Look, Selina was no stranger to nightmares, having them almost daily. She lived on the streets since she was five, there was absolutely no way she got out of there unharmed, physically and emotionally. And this was just proof.

      She was used to seeing her dead allies before she left Gotham in her nightmares. But what made her bolt upright as soon as she woke up was the new person dead.

      Freddy.

       Sweet, beautiful, kind-hearted Freddy Freeman, his throat ripped open and crutch lying broken beside him, his lifeless eyes that seemed betrayed.

      Tears sprung into her green eyes, both hands clamped over her mouth to muffle her sobs so she wouldn't wake up Mary. It took all of her strength to move he shaky legs, get out of bed and continue holding in the urge to cry as she stumbled downstairs.

      Her breathing was rapid, desperately trying to get the horrifying image out of her head and sat on the couch when it felt like her legs would give up on her.

      Why? Why did her brain feel the need to hurt her like this? To remind her that she could never hold a perfect thing and not demolish it? Besides, who could ever love someone like Selina fucking Kyle—?!

      "Selina?" The voice caught her off guard and she would've screamed, but the sound got caught in her throat so she made a noise that resembled a squeak and a sob.

      Freddy had been in the kitchen when he heard the curly-haired girl about to break down into a panic attack. He limped toward her, his drawing book at hand which he abandoned on the floor to sit beside her.

      "Hey, hey, it's okay," he cooed to her, the familiar tone she was used to hearing when he comforted her, "did you have a nightmare again?"

      She could barely even twitch her head to nod, her hands balling into fists and digging her sharp nails into her palms. Selina struggled to breathe as fat tears finally started rolling down her cheeks and he grabbed her fists gently.

      "It's okay, just breathe. Breathe with me, okay?" Freddy said softly, being careful as he pried open her fists so she wouldn't make them bleed again, scooting closer to her. "Just look at me and breathe...you're safe, I promise."

      Finally, she did look at him. There wasn't any blood, his crutch was by the table and not broken, his brown eyes filled with concern rather than betrayal.

      He was alive. It was just a dream.

      Selina slowly started calming down, staring at his perfect face as he rubbed his thumbs against her knuckles.

      A part of her hoped he wouldn't cut his hair soon, finding the baby curls he was now sporting absolutely beautiful.

      And his freckles...they were like constellations on his skin. She could sit there all day and count all the freckles all over his face. In fact, that's what she did. She counted each freckle with each breath she took until she was finally relaxed.

      "Do you wanna talk about it?" Freddy asked her gently, nodding in understanding when she quickly shook her head. "Hey...can I show you something? I was gonna wait till it was finished, but...I was thinking you might wanna see it now?"

      Her catlike green eyes were confused but nodded as she wiped away her leftover tears with the back of her hand as he pulled out his drawing book that was on the table. He started flipping through the pages, still holding one of of her hands until he got to the page he was looking for and turned it toward her.

      On the page was a drawing of a girl with curly brown hair, shades of gold hidden in the wild and unruly strands. Her green eyes were bright, like shining gems. She was dressed in ripped jeans and a black jacket, underneath her boots were the words written in Freddy's familiar handwriting 'Daytime outfit'.

      Then there was the unfinished drawing was right beside it. It was more of a sketch and not much color, but the girl's curls were hidden under a cowl, pointed cat ears on the top. Some parts of her leather suit was black but not finished colored yet and sharp claws at the end of her gloves. This time, her eyes were different. They were neon green and pupils cut into slits, like a cat's. And underneath the drawing like the first one was written 'Anti-hero costume'.

      "Who...who is this?" Selina asked, her voice raspy from crying so she had to clear her throat for a moment.

      Freddy gave her a smile. "Who do you think it is? It's you, Selly."

      Man, she really hated that nickname. But she couldn't bring herself to say anything or even care.

      Freddy drew her.

      He. Drew. Her.

      "You're...making a comic book character...based on...me?" She managed to ask, her voice cracking but not from her previous panic attack.

      He smiled sweetly at her and nodded. "Yeah! I mean, I still have to figure out a name and alias and more of a backstory for her but...maybe you can help me with that." He suggested.

      Love wasn't her thing. It wasn't. But at this very moment, as her green eyes met his soft brown ones, Selina could finally admit something to herself.

      She was in love with Freddy.

      The sixteen-year-old smiled at him before nodding, her curls bouncing. "I-I'd really like to help. Besides, who else is gonna get the thieving anti-hero persona right except me?" She said, smirking playfully as they both started giggling.

      They started talking after that, pressed against one another as they discussed his new anti-hero character. They agreed that this character would be a homeless thief, like Selina. The conversation would've gone longer...if it weren't for the catlike girl falling asleep, her head on the fifteen-year-old's shoulder.

      The two teens fell asleep on the couch, neither of them moving until the sun was up and it was time for school.

       Despite barely having any sleep, that was the best sleep Selina's had in a long time. She was secured against Freddy, listening to his soft snores as his head was lulled back against the top of the of the couch.

      She really did love him. It genuinely frightened her to the very core, but she loved him.

       And that was why right after dinner, the girl started writing the next poem.

      This poem was shorter than the others, but she meant every single word from the deepest depths of her growing heart.

      Beautiful stranger. Here you are in my heart. And I think it's finally safe...for me to fall.

      This time, she didn't double check with Mary to see if it looked okay. She just wanted to keep this one to herself. One more letter, just to remind Freddy that he deserved the world and see his eyes light up like a Christmas tree.

      So that morning, Selina felt better. Happier, even. Wearing a dark blue ripped hoodie, the one Freddy had gotten for her during her first Christmas with the Vasquez family.

      Her classes seem to pass by slowly, making the teenager lose the will to live. But lunch was coming soon, so she knew she had to leave soon to deposit the letter and go back to class.

       Selina's steps were light, the letter between her slender fingers as she approached Freddy's locker. She was standing right in front of it, about to slide it in before—

      "Selina?"

      The thief froze, her blood turning ice cold before she managed to move quick enough to hide the letter behind her back.

      "Freddy! Sh-shouldn't you be in class?" She asked, stuttering over her words for a moment.

      The ravenette hobbled closer to her, his eyes surprised but serious. "Lina..."

      "D-did you come to see who your secret admirer is? Cause I-I did too!"

      "Selina—"

      "I wanted to catch this person in the action—!"

      "Cat—"

      "—but I don't think they're showing up today so we should just go back to class and forget about th—!"

      "Selina Kyle, you are word-vomiting more than I usually do." Freddy managed to successfully cut her off, taking another step toward her so they were face to face.

      She felt like she was going to puke, finally shutting up. The thief had to swallow down bile, regretting for a brief moment for eating breakfast. She should've skipped.

      "Selina...can I see it?" He asked her softly.

      "S-see what?" She attempted to play dumb, but that was never her best act.

      "The letter you were going to slide inside my locker," his soft eyes met her panicked ones, "please?"

      Her hands, that were once so graceful, shook violently as she revealed the letter. He took it silently, unfolding it before reading it out loud. "'Beautiful stranger. Hear you are in my heart. And I think it's finally safe...for me to fall'. Your secret admirer." He finally looked at her. "It's...it's you. You've been writing these letters."

      She took a deep breath before slowly nodding, training her eyes down at her boots.

      "Why?" He asked, sounding confused enough to make her look up.

      "Why what?"

      "Why would you write that? Those letters? Because it's not a funny joke, Selina, it's really not."

      She stared at him, now confused as well. "Freddy, I...I wrote those letters because..." she took a deep breath and for once let the flood gates open, "because I'm in love with you and that terrifies the shit out of me. I love you and your dorky face, your smile, how you ramble when you're talking about superheroes, your artwork, your hair, your freckles, every damn th—" she was once again cut off from another bout of word-vomit, but this time it was something different.

      A pair of lips smashed her own.

      It was quick kiss, a peck before Freddy leaned back and his cheeks were flaming red. "I...Kitty Cat...I love you too. I've loved you for so long but...I never thought you could ever love me like that. And I've been praying every night, hoping that you were the one writing those secret admirer letters."

       Selina's face was turning pink, looking down for a moment as it felt like her heart was going to explode. She genuinely felt lighter now that she opened up, almost floating because holy shit, Freddy felt the same way! "I guess your prayers were answered," she chuckled lightly, "I never knew you had feelings for me. I already accepted my fate to be alone forever."

      He giggled, shaking his head. "Nah. Not on my watch. I told you, you're gonna help me make comic books." He smiled before looking at her seriously. "Lina...you're a masterpiece too."'

      She couldn't help but to blush and smile more, leaning in and kissing him again. The kiss was longer this time, more passion as the teenagers forgot about going back to class. When they pulled apart, they couldn't stop smiling and giggled again, holding each other's hands.

      "Don't cut your hair." She said suddenly. "Your curls are so cute."

      The superhero fanatic chuckled softly and nodded. "If you start wearing my superhero shirts, then we have a deal."

      They started giggling again, pressing their foreheads against one another as they smiled peacefully.

      Then a thought came to her, making her groan. "Aw, shit."

      He tilted his head to the side slightly in curiosity. "What? What is it?" Freddy asked as Selina made eye contact with him.

      "I owe Mary ten bucks now."