Meet & Greet
Gotham – East End
Clark hadn't waited around for the police to start asking questions. He'd reacted, that's all, let the gorgeous blond take all the credit, especially since she did pretty much all the work. Interesting place this Gotham City, he thought.
If you've ever been poor and have to find a place to live, you know your choices aren't that great. Clark had met one of the graphic designers at his new job, Jerry, after his interview and the guy had told him there was a place open in his building. It was cheap and clean, Clark took it sight unseen. As he neared the address he had written on a slip of paper he received something of a culture shock.
It wasn't that he was particularly naïve. Yes he'd grown up on a farm and went to school at a state college, but he knew the world wasn't all farmer's markets, bookstores and Starbucks. It was just that before arriving tonight the largest city he'd ever been in was a perhaps 600, 000. Gotham was several million. It wasn't as if the smaller towns didn't have bars and strip club, they did. Clark had even been to a couple in his life, although he always felt awkward at a strip club cause he was never sure where he was supposed to look. Someone is standing right in front of you, looking right at you while taking their clothes off, do you look them in the eye or what? Do you compliment the dancer on her dancing or her nudity? It was just an awkward situation all around.
So it wasn't that he didn't know about that side of life, just that in Gotham it was so right out there in your face, so to speak. People were out mingling on the street. Neon signs flashed Nude Dancers, Triple X Shows, Private Viewing Rooms, in amongst the garish bars and clubs, payday loan offices and all night eateries. Men were handing out flyers for the shows and both women and men approached Clark asking if he was looking for a good time. Every time one of the doors to the different clubs opened, he was assaulted by the music blaring out. He didn't think he'd ever heard Mötley Crüe's Girls-Girls-Girls so many times from so many different directions in his life.
Politely as he could, he turned down all the offers that came his way and repeatedly explained he wasn't a narc or cop, until finally he found the building written on the piece of paper. Not for the first time, Clark worried he wouldn't be able to get into his new apartment tonight. He didn't want to dip into his already limited supply of money for a hotel room and now that he'd seen the neighborhood, he didn't want to spend the night sitting on the steps until morning.
Jerry had assured him there wouldn't be a problem, but now Clark was realizing he didn't even really know the guy at all. Running his finger down the list of names next to apartment numbers, he finally found Jerry's and pressed the buzzer. He waited and waited, but nothing happened. He pressed it again, longer this time. Nothing happened. Clark stepped back and looked up at the windows of the ten-story building. Lights were on in several of them but he had no clue which one was Jerry's. Clark pressed Jerry's buzzer again, holding it in a long time, still nothing happened.
Now he didn't know what to do. He was standing with all his possessions in strange city just feet away from his new apartment but he couldn't get in. He could feel eyes on him, sizing him up from all around. He could only imagine what they were thinking, some hick from nowhere fresh off the bus. They probably weren't thinking that, but that's what Clark felt like. They were probably thinking easy target, newbie in the city, a mark for the taking.
Out of the corner of his eye, Clark saw a group of young men walking towards him. They didn't look friendly. He didn't want any trouble, just to get in the building and maybe get some sleep before he had to start work tomorrow. In desperation, Clark stepped back again and looked up at the lighted windows. The top floor lights were all on, so he made a spur of the moment decision. He went back over to the buzzers and scanned the names. He didn't know any of them; so one name was as good as the next. He could feel the group of young men getting closer, so he just picked one at random. He pressed the buzzer next to the name S. Kyle.
He waited what seemed like forever before a voice responded through the intercom.
"Yes? Who is it?"
It was a young woman's voice. Clark pressed the intercom and started talking.
"Hi, my name's Clark, I'm the new tenant,' he began. "I was supposed to be let in by Jerry in 6B, but he isn't answering. It's late and I've just arrived, so I was hoping you could help me out and let me in, please?"
There was a long pause on the other end.
"Who are you?"
"Clark, I'm the new tenant."
Another long pause followed.
"You're not a cop are you?"
"No, could you please just let me in, I'd really appreciate it,' Clark replied, his voice growing a bit more urgent as the group of young men were only about ten feet away now.
"Why should I believe you?' The woman's voice asked.
"Look, ma'am, I've just got off the bus and Jerry's the only person I know,' Clark replied. "There's a group of guys walking towards me and I don't think they want to welcome me to the neighborhood if you know what I mean. Please, could you just let me in and I'll get Jerry to explain everything. Please?"
"Did you just call me ma'am?" The woman asked.
"I was just trying to be polite,' Clark replied. 'Could you open the door, please, Miss, ma'am, Mrs. whatever you want me to call you?"
"If this is some sort of game, you're going to regret it,' she fired back through the intercom.
"It's not a game or a joke, but you would be saving me from a fight, please?"
"Ma'am, Jesus.' He heard her say over the intercom. It was followed by a laugh. "All right, come on in."
Mercifully she pressed the button and the door unlocked just as the group reached the bottom of the stairs. Clark rushed through the door, banging his bags against his legs and the frame before shutting it. He could hear the group on the other side cursing and banging on the door, but he wasn't about to open it again.
Rubbing his shin, Clark shouldered his bags and started up the stairs towards Jerry's apartment.
The Warehouse District
Dinah had led the police on a merry chase and finally lost them down near the docks. She'd spent the last hour doubling and tripling back just in case someone was following her. Once she was sure she was safe, Dinah headed here. She pressed the remote control and the warehouse doors opened. She glided her motorcycle inside and closed the doors behind her. Home, sweet home, she thought, as she turned off the bike and unzipped her jacket.
The warehouse was in a dummy corporation name, but she owned it. Originally it had been meant just to store her things, but with a warrant out for her and a price on her head, it had become her hideout and base of operations. It wasn't exactly the Ritz, but it was safe.
Dinah did a quick check of her bike and saw she was going to have to replace several parts. Usually she would have done this first, but tonight she was tired and just wanted to relax. As she headed towards what passed as the living area, she heard the sound of the television. She was ready for anything, but figured she knew who it was. When she stepped around the corner and into the large open space her suspicions were correct, it was Ev Crawford or Starling, as she was known now.
They had met awhile back and had become friends. Ev liked to get involved in shady things, but Dinah had come to trust her. She didn't have many friends at the moment so she tended to overlook some things. Ev sat sprawled out on the couch, a drink in her hand and her boots off. Jet black, form fitting pants and a stripped vest comprised her wardrobe. This was augmented by her two shoulder holsters and what Dinah knew were loaded guns in each. Her gloves were off, so Dinah could see Ev's sleeve of tattoos that cover her left arm from her fingers all the way up to her ear. Her dark hair was in its usual ponytail and she looked very relaxed.
"Making yourself comfortable, I see,' Dinah said, announcing her presence in the room.
Ev finished her drink and started pouring another. She reached over and picked up another glass and filled it too.
"Just watching my girl on the news,' Ev said with a smile. She held up the glass for Dinah. "Gotham's newest hero, Black Canary, takes out four armed robbers all by her lonesome and then races off into the night avoiding the police. It must have been fun, but does she call her old friend to let her in on it? No."
"I was a little busy dodging bullets to send you a text,' Dinah replied, accepting the drink and dropping down in the couch next to Ev.
"I'll accepted that this time,' Ev stated. "They've been showing lots of shots of you driving away. I think the cameraman's a perv though; he seems to be focused on your ass the whole time."
"Is there a reason you're here?' Dinah asked as she took a sip of the liquor.
"Can't I just want to stop by and drink your free booze?"
"You do that anyway, so what's up?" Dinah said.
"Oh, just though you might be interested to know that one of those robbers you busted tonight has connections,' Ev said. "Apparently the kid's uncle is a made man and the kid was trying to make his bones tonight. Kind of a family dipshit from everything I've heard."
"So?"
"The uncle isn't going to take kindly to you getting his nephew arrested,' Ev replied.
"So another person doesn't like me, I think I'll live."
"Nice going taking out all four like that, by the way,' Ev offered.
"I only took three of them out,' Dinah quietly said, taking another sip of her drink.
"Three? Who took out the fourth?" Ev asked.
"Just some guy that was on the street."
"A civilian?'
"Yeah."
"Hmm."
"He saved an old lady in the process,' Dinah offered, taking another sip.
"Just some guy did that?"
"Well, yeah, although he looked like he was in pretty good shape,' Dinah replied.
Something in Dinah's voice caught Ev's attention. She picked up the bottle and refilled both their glasses.
"So just what did this 'some guy' look like, Dinah?'
"Why?' Dinah said defensively.
"Just curious." Ev replied. She then tapped her glass against Dinah's. "Cheers!"
"Cheers."
They both took a drink.
"So?"
"So what?"
"What did he look like?"
"He was just a guy, okay,' Dinah said, trying to dismiss the subject.
"Oh, come on, he saved an old lady,' Eve replied, pressing for details. "Was he tall or short, fat or thin?"
"Tall, not really thin, more of a swimmer's muscular build,' Dinah offered. When she saw Ev's smile grow she knew she'd said too much.
"Interesting. So what did he look like?" Ev asked. "Since you noticed his swimmer's build you must have noticed his face too."
Dinah made a face at Ev, but she wasn't deterred. She kept nudging Dinah's shoulder, prodding her for details.
"Stop it. He was good looking, okay?" Dinah finally said. "Dark hair, really blue eyes and a nice smile, satisfied?"
"Well, look at you,' Ev said with a laugh. "I'd swear you're blushing. You liked this guy, didn't you?"
"I just saw him for a minute on the street, don't make more of it than it was,' Dinah countered.
"Don't bullshit a bullshitter, Dinah,' Ev stated. "You haven't shown any interested in anyone since Kurt died. Have you even had sex since then?"
"That's really none of your business, Ev!"
"I'll take that as a no, you haven't," Ev said, waving off Dinah's objections. "So are you going to see this guy again?"
"No! I don't even know who he is, okay? He was just some good looking guy on the street, don't make it more than it is!" Dinah protested. "He probably just got into town, I mean he had his bags with him and all."
"Yeah, you're not interested at all, are you?" Ev sarcastically said.
"No, besides, I'm a fugitive, remember?"
"Oh, that's right, but hey, I'm not a fugitive, at least not around here yet,' Ev replied. "He sounds like my type. So if you're not interested, say I find him what about me asking him out?'
"No. And just shut up, will you?"
East End
After banging on Jerry's door for almost a minute, Clark finally heard someone stir on the other side. There was a lot of shuffling around and banging before the door finally opened. A wave of patchouli hit Clark in the face almost gagging him. As strong as it was, it still didn't mask the other smell coming from the apartment.
"Hey! Clark Kent, when you get in?' Jerry said. "Come on in, I've got your keys around here somewhere."
"Um, thanks,' Clark replied, stepping inside and reluctantly closing the door. His eyes were starting to water and Clark couldn't help wondering if he was going to get a contact high just standing in the room. Again, it wasn't that he was unfamiliar with this smell, he did go to college after all, it was just that it was rather all encompassing in the smal apartment. "Do-Do you mind if I crack a window or something?"
"Knock yourself out,' Jerry said as he rummaged through his things looking for the keys.
Clark opened a window and leaned out. It wasn't much better as the exhaust from the Chinese restaurant next door seemed to vent directly towards the window.
"Found them!' Jerry cheerfully said. "Say, how come you didn't ring the buzzer?"
"I did, several times,' Clark replied.
"Sorry, I must have had the headphones on,' Jerry offered. "So how did you get in?"
Clark was still leaning out the window trying to get a little fresh air.
"I was desperate,' he said. "Some guys were make a move my way so I picked a window with a lights on and just pressed one of the buttons for that floor. A woman was nice enough to buzz me in."
"A woman? Which floor did you buzz, dude?"
"The top floor,' Clark replied. "A Miss Kyle was nice enough to let me in."
"Selina?" Jerry gasped.
"It said S. Kyle, so I guess."
"Unbelievable,' Jerry said with a shake of his head. "You must know how to sweet talk the ladies or something Clark, for Selina Kyle to do you a favor."
"Actually I think she let me in because I called her ma'am,' Clark admitted.
Jerry started laughing and once he started he couldn't stop. He slumped down into an large, old chair, his whole body shaking with laughter.
"Oh, shit man, you're killing me! You called Selina Kyle ma'am? You're lucky she didn't come down and kick your ass, dude!"
"I was just trying to be polite,' Clark offered. "She sounded nice enough over the intercom, kind of sweet actually."
This just sent Jerry into hysterics.