It wasn't an overly awesome day to begin with. The guys at the diner were rude which wasn't really anything out of the ordinary, but when we were forced to throw them out because of a fight without getting the chance for them to pay...that was crappy.
Fights weren't uncommon in a diner in Gotham City. Hell, fights sure as hell weren't uncommon in Gotham City, end of story. But at least we usually got them to pay...And if a customer doesn't pay then the boss gets mad and if the boss gets mad he yells at the staff even though we didn't do shit.
And that was just the last few hours of my day. That wasn't even bringing into consideration the daily shit I have to go through at the hospital. Both litterally and metaphorically.
Oh how easy my job would be if I could tell people to shut the fuck up and sit their asses down...
Ya we get it, your arm's broken. But you're already in a sling and the guy in the next room over has three gunshot wounds and is going into shock! And in case you haven't noticed; the hospital is already short-staffed because we live in Gotham City where most of the population lives on the streets and can't afford to go to med school.
I mumble curses under my breath as I insert my key into the slot and twist. It was late, almost midnight, but I knew Carrie wasn't home. She'd left a note early this morning before my shift at he hospital telling me she was spending the night at her boyfriend's.
What was his name again? Kyle? Kieth? Kaden? Something starting with a K. Gotta give him credit though, not many decent guys around here would be willing to handle their long-term girlfriend being a stripper...
Pushing the heavy door open, I'm greeted by the pitch black apartment. I let the door shut and turn on the lights, my hand automatically knowing where the switch is after two years. When the lights flicker on, I'm happy to be home at last. Dropping my bags, my eyes spot a familiar black and white puffball and I smile even wider.
"Hey there Marilyn, what's up?" I ask, smiling. Kitty let's out a shy meow before patting closer, and I gently pick her up. The small monochrome tabby cat purrs as I stroke her ears and I giggle.
"Did mommy leave you all day? Was little Marilyn lonely? I'm sorry baby." I sooth and kiss the top of her head.
Was it weird to name your cat after a 50s sex icon? Maybe.
Was I a crazy cat lady? Maybe.
Did I care? Not at all.
With one last kiss to her head, I set Marilyn down before peeling off my black trenchcoat and set it on one of the hooks by the door along with my keys. Underneath the coat is my waitress uniform, the classic light blue dress with a collar and little puffed sleeves. It was the rules that we leave the aprons at the diner, kind of like he doctor's white coats at the hospital.
Since nobody else was in the apartment, I began to unbutton the dress as I pulled out my scrubs and left for my bedroom. After I threw my work clothes in my laundry hamper I grabbed one of my oversized sweaters and slipped it on over my underwear along with a pair of pajama shorts.
After changing, I looked at Marilyn and hummed in thought.
"I'm not really tired...are you? I know I'm starving for some food that isn't deep fried..." I mutter and I stroll over to the little kitchen. As I do so, I grab my cellphone and check it for any new messages. There's a couple new updates, a message from my boss at the dinner telling me that my paycheck was due tomorrow, and a voicemail from my parents.
I tap on the voicemail and put it on the counter while I hunt down a late dinner/ early breakfast.
"Hey honey, it's your parents. You know, the ones that love you very much but you never call anymore because you're so busy saving lives?" My mother's thick Italian accent plays through the phone and I roll my eyes.
"Hey Mom." I mutter.
"Give us a call sometime Amara! We miss you!" My father's equally thick accent says.
"Hello Dad." I reply.
"We just wanted to call and say we miss you...and thank you for the money you sent Wednesday...it really helped with the restaurant." Mom said.
"Some junky broke a window, but we got it fixed." Dad said.
"She didn't need to know that Nicholas!" Mom hissed and I let out a small giggle. "But seriously Tesoro, call us soon ya? We love you!"
"Yes, and we wish you luck. Go make the world a better place." Dad says and I smile wholeheartedly at my phone as the message ends.
"I love you guys too." I mutter, and I finish making my fruit salad.
It was probably too late to call them now, seeing as it was almost 12:30 in the morning. But I made a mental note to call them if I got a coffee break tomorrow.
Marilyn meowed loudly and I looked down at her. Her like green eyes shining wantingly at me, and the salad I was holding. My mind couldn't help but travel to a year ago, when I had found her on a sidewalk: soaked to the bone, starving, and curled up in a cardboard box that was falling apart. I had just gotten semi-financially stable and was looking for a roommate (enter Carrie) so I figured that it would do more good than harm to bring her home with me. The vet bills were hell at first, but once Marilyn got her shots and was properly fed: I never once regretted taking her home with me.
My train of thought was suddenly derailed when a loud bang was heard outside the apartment, followed by a series of equally loud crashes and thumps. I knew that sound all too well from living in Gotham City: that was the sound of a body falling onto metal. More specifically, the sound of a heavy-possibly unconscious-body falling onto my fire escape.