Author's note: When I thought of Ray, I was thinking of a younger Colin Farrell.
Elizabeth walked into her apartment and shut the door behind her. The apartment was empty and silent. Liz hated the silence. She missed the days when she would come home and be greeted by her mother. But times had changed. Liz had not always lived in Gotham, but was raised in New York City along with her older step brother, Ray. Her real father had left her mother before she was even born, and her step father, Robert, had been the only father she had ever known.
Life had been perfect, but her world was turned upside down when her mother was murdered by a psychopath almost 2 years ago. Robert had fallen into a deep depression and became drunk and abusive to Liz, who was just 15. As soon as Ray witnessed a brutal beating that his own father had given to Liz one night, he took Liz away to Gotham City to protect her. They had been here since, in this little one room apartment. Ray worked overtime at his job just to make ends meet. But they always seemed to have just enough extra money to afford some of the nicer things in life. Liz looked at the clock, 4:00. Ray would be home soon. She went into the small kitchen and went into the freezer.
"Hot Pockets…hot pockets…and more hot pockets" Liz sighed. Ray loved hot pockets, but she was not in the mood. She looked in the fridge, and saw nothing but an almost empty milk container, some soda, and some leftovers that looked like they were alive.
"I'm gonna have to add grocery shopping to my plans" She grumbled as she shut the door and looked through a pile of menus on the counter.
"Chinese it is"
About an hour later, Liz was digging through a big bag of Chinese food and separating everything when Ray came home.
"Hey Lizzy!" Ray said and smiled. He was 22, muscular, and gorgeous. Liz's friends were always asking her to set up dates with him. She never would of course, she knew he was gorgeous, but in all honesty, he was the best friend she would ever have.
"Ugh, I hate that nickname" Liz stuck her tongue out at him.
Ray looked at the table full of Chinese food. "Umm, something wrong with the food here?" He asked
"There is none"
Ray opened his eyes wide opened and gasped "No more hot pockets?"
Liz glared at him "Sit and eat already"
As they ate, they each shared their stories of the day.
"So do you have any plans for tonight?" Ray asked
"Well, I was planning to go to the mall with Melina" Liz responded
"Be home by 10" Ray stated
"Stop being such a mother" Liz complained
"It's my job, and besides, Gotham isn't safe at night"
"I'll be fine" Ray gave Liz a pleading look.
"Alright fine, by 10" Liz gave in.
"Thank you" Ray nodded approvingly.
"Did you have plans for tonight?" Liz inquired
"Yeah, I'm going to go out with some of the guys from work, but I should be home by 10, which means if you're not home before I am, there's gonna be a problem"
"Alright, I get the point" Liz said getting up and grabbing her purse. "I'll see you tonight then" She then turned to open the door.
"Liz?" Liz turned around.
"I love you sis" Ray said and smiled.
"Love you too, Ray" she said and waved goodbye as she raced out of the apartment.
