The world moved on in a flurry of activity and Vanessa was swept away with it all, Gotham had provided her with a new lease on life, surprising seeing as it had the highest fatal shootings ratings in the USA. The work of the ever elusive, myth that was Batman seemed to have little significance to the citizens of Gotham since the hellish days the Joker had brought and the death of Harvey Dent. It wasn't until two months into Vanessa's move did she first hear of the cities mysterious Dark Knight, it was a small article, a loan journalist still believing in the Batman, and the work he did. Vanessa just rolled her eyes assuming he was like the Diana Prince lady who was arrested in New York protecting some sort of heritage sight, called herself Wonder Woman.
"Vee! You up yet?" a man's voice punctuated the morning air; Vanessa groaned and rolled over, refusing to acknowledge the need to get up.
"Oi, Vee, don't make me come in there!"
There was no reply, and the man was getting impatient. "You better not be naked, because I'm coming in. Last time I saw your lady bits, well you didn't have any." He petered off, but Vanessa still refused to make a noise. "Right, that's it"
The door burst open and the young man marched towards the bed, lifting the mattress he bodily attempted to throw the thing off the bed, with Vanessa on it.
"Oh, save your self the trouble Tristan, I'm up."
"Right, I have coffee freshly brewed in the kitchen. Its your big day today after all!" Vanessa glared at Tristan, "Ok when I say big day, I don't mean your actual big day."
Vanessa at this point had pressed her finger to Tristan's lips and glared, the boy nodded. Vanessa removed her finger and walked slowly towards the bathroom, Tristan took the opportunity to hightail it to the kitchen. A few minutes later she joined him, grateful for the steaming mug of coffee he offered, "Why thank you brother dear."
"Not a problem my sister sweet." Vanessa rolled her eyes.
"So remind me again why you're here?" Vanessa turned to her brother, her eyes questioning over the brim of her coffee mug.
"I told you! Uni is done for the holidays and Mum said you might be alone for Christmas, besides I don't think I'll be able to do any studying, remember our cousin has spawned again."
"Tristan, babies are wonderful, wonderful things…"
"Right, tell that to the girl crying in the loos in halls, Claire says she brought three tests and everything."
"Tell me you had absolutely nothing to do with that girls reproductive system causing her to be with child?"
"No! Do we have to talk about this?"
"No, but… Mum did give you the talk didn't she?"
"What, Mum? She sent Dad in, he just gave me some rubbers and basically told me not to fuck up."
"Oh God, he didn't? Are you sure you don't have any illegitimate kids running around?"
"Vee, get real. He on the other hand…" Tristan gestured to a picture of Wayne tripping out of a nightclub in the wee hours, "better watch out."
"Right, as you have now eaten what you had remaining in your cupboards, we are going out." Tristan jumped off the counter and looked expectantly at his sister, Vanessa couldn't help think he looked like an eager puppy. And as with most cute and fluffy things, Vanessa couldn't disappoint it, so with much sufferance she gathered her things. Not 15 minutes later Tristan was pushing his sister through the doors of a beauty salon, "Right you go into that temple of women get what you have to get done, done and I'll meet you back here in a hour. I am going to the supermarket, you better be grateful, when I get back laden with gifts."
One long and painful hour later Vanessa stepped gingerly onto the pavement, scanning the people in front of her for her brother, she was soon rewarded by the site of a tall and lean brunet walking towards her, laden down with shopping bags.
"Is that all for me?" Vanessa asked hopefully.
"Me too, don't be greedy, I can already see you getting a bit of fat round the thighs."
Vanessa gasped and immediately patted down her legs, trying to reassure herself they were not in fact ballooning into sausage like appendages.
"Oh get over it, you look fine…" Tristan grabbed his sister's arm and pulled her along a bit, smiling hesitantly at the people she'd been obstructing.
Once the two siblings arrived back at the apartment Vanessa dove for the shopping bags her brother had managed to bring in, pulling herself out a loaf of bread and a can of tuna she proceeded to make her self a sandwich, pausing she shot a look over her shoulder, her brother was attempting to make himself look busy, "would you like a sandwich Tristan?"
"That would be lovely…"
Vanessa grinned, her brother was so very predictable, "Right I've got to get into the gallery to make sure everything is set up so I'll come back here to get ready and then the two of us can head off?"
"Do I honestly have to go to this thing?"
"Yup, besides I need a date…"
"You do realise how utterly pathetic that sounds right?"
"Thank you Tristan for reminding me of how horrendously boring my life has become."
"No need to thank me, just part of the job description." Vanessa snorted and hit her brother over the head as she passed him on the way out.
Later that evening Bruce Wayne was fixing his bow tie in the mirror, eyeing his reflection critically.
"You never could get the hang of those could you Master Wayne?"
Bruce turned toward Alfred looking abashed; his tie remained stubbornly undone around his neck.
"Shall I sir?" Alfred asked, a small smile gracing his features.
"Thanks Alfred," Bruce sighed, attempting to gear himself up for another night of schmoozing, thankfully this evening he was flying solo, a definite boon considering the majority of his dates these days thought Africa was a country.
"Christ Vanessa, would you hurry up? We're going to be late, or have you got me dressed up in this monkey suit for nothing?"
Vanessa's bedroom door was pushed open and his sister emerged, every inch of her body had been plucked, waxed and moisturised in preparation for the opening. Encased in a simple yellow bandeau cocktail dress, Vanessa held her hands akimbo, a questioning look across her face as if to say 'well?'
"Not bad sis, not bad at all. Now come on! We need to get that train"
The two Taylor's arrived at the gallery and were greeted by a frenzy of photographers, each one looking decidedly put out when they discovered it wasn't one of the many glitterati Gotham had to provide. Vanessa was thankful for the fact no one was shouting her name, asking her to pose seeing as she had to concentrate on placing one foot in front of the other, her dress didn't afford much movement and her shoes were ridiculously high, she cursed Alicia's zeal for shopping.
"Right, I'm going to get drinks," Tristan's voice drew her from her thoughts "you go sell some paintings, and don't try to make too much of a fool out of yourself."
"You're sweet, I'll see you later." He nodded and walked off in the opposite direction. Vanessa breathed, shut her eyes and prepared to mingle with the guests, plastering a smile on her face she moved towards a promising couple who stood admiring a piece.
Five minutes later Vanessa was bored, the couple were so self congratulatory that she wanted to take the cocktail stick her olives were secured with in her martini glass and stab them with it, she however refrained, for one she didn't fancy finishing off the evening in jail and second she new that they were close to buying. She smiled at them and gritted her teeth, she turned around slowly and saw a tall figure cutting his way through the crowd, his eyes directly on her. Vanessa sharply turned around and smiled at the couple once more, "So what do you think?"
"Think about what?" the woman asked blithely
"The painting," Vanessa smiled politely
"Well I think it'll look great in the hall, we just got a new place, did we mention? So I think you can put it aside for us " the man asked, leering at Vanessa.
"Sure thing, I'll just mark it as sold" Vanessa was just reaching to place the red mark on the printed laminated card by the painting when a smooth, deep voice stopped her.
"Ms Taylor, pleasure seeing you again." Vanessa turned, a look of relief across her face with the distraction he provided, which she quickly masked, she didn't want Wayne thinking she was infatuated.
"Mr Wayne, I didn't think you'd be making an appearance…"
"I never miss an opportunity to admire beautiful things."
Vanessa tried her best to keep a straight face, but laughter was threatening to bubble up.
The couple who had been gazing at Wayne with a slightly awed expression, returned their attention back Vanessa, the woman this time spoke up, "Nessa honey," Vanessa grimaced at the woman's choice of nickname, the Gothamite appeared not to notice, "where are you from, you don't exactly sound American"
"Oh I'm from Bristol actually…"
"Bristol, is that in London?" this all proved to be too much for Vanessa and laughter burst forth, the couple looked scandalised. Bruce, who had managed to obtain himself a glass of champagne during the brief conversation, placed his arm around Vanessa's waist and steered her way from the others, adding his apologies as he did so.
"um thanks," Vanessa muttered as she coughed slightly
"No problem, I thought it best if you kept your insulting of the guests down to the bare minimum, it's not really good for business"
"Yeah, maybe I should be going then, never know what's going to come out of my mouth next…"
"Well Ms Taylor, I was hoping you'd point out the best pieces to me, I could do with an expert opinion…" Bruce noticing Vanessa's hesitant look, deployed his smile, he knew it could do wonders if used correctly. Vanessa found herself slowly nodding and taking Bruce's proffered arm.
The couple had soon covered half the paintings, both discussing why each canvas had something unique to offer, they finally came to a large painting on the back wall, the information card read 'Birth' the artists name and small biography printed underneath.
"Birth?" Bruce repeated having read the title, his eyebrow raised, "I don't see it…"
Vanessa inwardly smiled, decided to have a little fun, "You don't? I thought it was quite obvious, it's the birth canal"
"Birth canal?" Bruce looked aghast
"Yes, I think it would be an excellent installation for a hallway or perhaps as a centre piece in a lounge"
"Are you serious? You think a picture of a woman's birth canal is suitable to put into the foyer of Wayne Manor?"
"Yes. Birth is a perfectly natural and wondrous thing Mr Wayne."
Bruce looked at her incredulously, turned back to the painting and pretend to take a sip of champagne, "At least it would be a talking point," he muttered.
Vanessa grinned, noticing her look Bruce turned to her, "You were just playing me weren't you."
Vanessa looked to the side, her face a mask of innocence and virtue, Bruce grinned, "Don't give me that, is it really a birth canal?"
"No, I think she's trying to represent the harshness of birth though, something about being ripped from the womb. You know I don't have to understand or like all of these paintings…"
"To be honest, I don't think I like any of them… it all seems a bit too pretentious"
"Pretentious? This coming from arguably one of the most pretentious men in Gotham?"
"What did I tell you about insulting the guests Ms Taylor, you may just loose my custom, and not to brag I don't think anyone here can match my buying power."
At Vanessa's outraged and disgusting look Bruce barked out a laugh, "I'm joking," he paused as Vanessa sighed, her anger abating, "Madge easily has enough."
Vanessa let out a frustrated yell and quickly turned on her heel, walking away. Bruce grinned and jogged after her, Vanessa cursed under her breath, her features set in a frown as she grabbed a glass of champagne from a near by waiter, "Stupid playboy billionaires, with their Armani suits and complete lack of taste …"
"Lack of taste? There you go again insulting me Ms Taylor, you really are making a habit of this aren't you"
Vanessa spun round and found her face a mere inch away from Bruce's upper torso and neck, swallowing deeply she looked up and attempted to look formidable, somewhat hard when the person opposite you has almost a foot on you, "You Mr Wayne are the most insufferable, inane and narcissistic man I have ever had the displeasure of meeting."
Bruce smiled, this served only to further infuriate her, gearing herself up for another tirade Vanessa balled up her fists, Bruce however jumped in, "dinner?"
Vanessa was so shocked she took an involuntary step backwards, "dinner?" she parroted uselessly.
"Yes, the act where a person sits down to a meal," Bruce said somewhat condescendingly
" I know what dinner is, thank you very much!"
"Well then, now we've cleared that up. Dinner with me?" Bruce smirked, his head cocked to one side in question.
"I…. " Vanessa teetered off, she suddenly developed a keen interest with the floor. A hand gently lifted her face upwards, Bruce's thumb resting lightly on her cheek, "Ms Taylor please allow me to take you to dinner, if only to say sorry," he smiled.
Vanessa's mind in that moment shut down, looking up at the chiselled features of Bruce she found herself giving an answer, "Ok… " no sooner were the words out of Vanessa's mouth an audible snap could be heard, whirling round her eyes rested on a grinning photographer, about to make an angry move towards him she felt Bruce put a restraining hand on her arm. "Leave it, I have learned from experience that killing a story often never proves to be worth the effort"
"Right, of course." Vanessa frowned, a hand found its way to her temple, "can I have your phone?" she finally asked. Bruce nodded his compliance albeit with a pinch of curiousty on his face as he removed his phone from his coat pocket. Vanessa ignored the shiver she felt as their hands brushed against each other's when the phone was passed over, she fiddled about the contraption for a moment, her forehead wrinkled in slight concentration, handing it back she smiled. "That's me. Anyway I think I better go and talk to Madge, I'll see you later Mr Wayne."
Vanessa slowly walked away looking amongst the people present for Marguerite, "Bruce!" the billionaires voice broke through the idle chattering, Vanessa turned and saw the Gotham Prince leaning back slightly, hands in pockets and smiling.
"Good night Bruce," she tried again, her voice warm.
"Enjoy the rest of your evening Vanessa," turning slowly he smiled to himself.
Marguerite was soon found at the centre of a fairly large crowd, decked out in what appeared to be floor length Valentino number, a fur stole flung over her shoulder, Madge looked to be having the time of her life. Vanessa tried to motion for her attention but only succeeded in being pushed back, finally the Gotham widow noticed Vanessa's struggled efforts and walked gracefully towards her, the crowd parting like the red sea.
"Oh come on my dear, what are you doing." She smiled at her previous companions who took this as a cue to leave.
"Looking for you," Vanessa replied, somewhat tersely
"And you found me." Marguerite paused, taking a sip of her wine and stumbling slightly, "There was something I was meaning to ask you, what was it? Oh, oh! Yes! Why are they so many Italians about?"
"Italians?"
"Yes, they all look rather sullen, there's a particularly fat one too, he's always got two young ones next to him," Madge stopped as if realising something, "oh, maybe he's a don!" Marguerite giggled and took another sip from her glass.
Vanessa sighed, a drunken Madge would be not easy to handle, "So you think he's part of the mafia?"
"Well he does look quite familiar. I don't pride myself in being close contact with the Gotham underworld but I really do think he's related to Falcone or something like that."
"Where is he Madge?" Vanessa asked carefully, "Don't point!" she quickly added.
"Oh I think he was looking at Mary-Louise's work… " she hiccupped, "he looked rather interested."
Vanessa smiled distractedly, making the decision there and then to investigate the potential mob boss in her art gallery. Making her excuses to Madge she casually walked to the section of the gallery that housed Mary-Louise's work, subtly looking over her shoulder she noticed the fat man Madge had been talking about, as she observed his face, he didn't look all together familiar but then again she hadn't been living in Gotham long.
"Fuck!" Vanessa swore loudly. A man next to her looked up, startled. Vanessa smiled winningly and walked away.
"Fuckity, fuck fuck…." Vanessa muttered, she had suddenly been struck by a thought, Tony's boss had paid in cash. Finally locating Alicia who was snuggled up with Tony on one of the several fluffy sofas, Vanessa stormed up, her eyes blazing.
"Alicia, a word?" without waiting for a response Vanessa grabbed her friend by the arm and pulled her in the direction of the toilets, not caring about the hurt she was inflicting. Pulling the budding actress around to face her Vanessa began in a whispered yell, "the mob Alicia, the mob, really? You actually sold tickets to the mob? Oh God, they'll own me for life!" Vanessa tailed off, whispering forgotten as her voice reached levels that would have made a soprano proud. She breathed in deeply several times, a slight maniacal glint in her eye. Alicia noticed the signs, Vanessa was verging on the point of hyperventilating, she closed her eyes in what Alicia thought as an attempt to calm down. Alicia however, was to be proven wrong, Vanessa's eyes snapped open, her fear refuelled, "Christ, I accepted mob money! Dirty money! I'm going to wake up with a horse's next to be me in bed, I'm owned by the goddamn mafia"
"Calm down Vanessa! Its not a problem, they'll just get some art and that'll be it, right? That's it, one time deal." Alicia nodded at her friend encouragingly; Vanessa looked at her and began breathing out several times, as if she were preparing for childbirth.
"Vee!" the two women looked up, wondering who was issuing the call.
Alicia turned round, "I think someone is asking for you."
Vanessa coughed and straightened her dress, "I think its Tristan. Um I'll see you later, ok?"
"Sure thing hun, don't worry too much yeah?"
"Right…"
Her name was called again but this time accompanied with hammering at the door, "yes Tristan?"
"Oh thank you! Some big Italian guy is looking for you?"
"Sorry, what?" Vanessa paled, her voice a barely audible whisper
"Yeah, Giovanni or something…"
"Well what does he want me for?" Vanessa said grabbing her brother's shoulders and pulling him down to face her.
"To buy his own original piece? Just go and talk to him!"
Tristan gave his sister a gentle shove, towards her fate. Vanessa shook her hands and jumped about on the spot as if she were a prize-fighter about to step in to the ring.
"erm, Vee? Watchadoin?"
Vanessa blushed, "Nothing, right. I'm going to talk to the Godfather"
