A/N: Chapter freaking one. Love this one and the way it ends. Hope you will too!
The Next Morning
"I've found the perfect guy to fill the position at GQ. He's an art director from Gotham." she spoke into her cell phone. She had to change her shirt in the cab and didn't want the driver staring her up and down.
"Excuse me sir. What's that over there?"
"The Jump City Titans Bridge." he looked out as she changed quickly.
"Thanks." Rachel got to the airport and picked Richard up. He was lean but built. He was in a suit with a one strap art portfolio around his shoulder. He had stunning blue eyes and black hair. He had a smile on as he walked toward her.
He saw Rachel and stared right at her eyes. 'Are they purple?' he wondered. He was then drawn to her other features. She had beautiful curves and a very tiny waist. Come to think of it, she was pretty short. Her dark hair was pulled back into a bun and her skin looked very soft.
"So are you nervous?" she asked him as they drove to the building.
"Sort of. I don't want to fuck this up. Excuse my expression."
"You won't fuck this up. Excuse my expression." she teased. "I've seen your stuff. You're good."
"Thank you." he said "So this is your job? Finding jobs for other people?"
"Sort of. I stalk good workers, like yourself, then when a position needs to be filled I go to my files, find a name do more research and recruit them. GQ is really looking forward to meeting you." she told him as they pulled up to the building.
"I'm not sure I really want it. The job I mean."
"At least act like you do. Because my job depends on it." Rachel said.
A Few Hours Later
"How'd it go?" she asked as he walked out.
"You're still here?" he asked surprised she waited till dark.
"Its part of my job." she explained.
"I don't know." he answered her earlier question.
"Yeah okay." she took out her phone and sent him an e-mail. His phone beeped and he recognized the number.
"What's this?"
"Your contract."
"I got it?" he asked "How do you know?"
"They called five minutes ago. You are exactly what they want. GQ has its new art director."
"Wow. Thanks but-"
"But my ass. You're really good Richard."
"Thank you. Its just, I'm not sure I can leave Gotham for Jump just like that." he snapped his fingers.
"I'm not going to tell you to leave your home for a job." Rachel settled. "But, I will definitely tell you to leave it for this city. It's amazing." he still looked unsure. "Let me show you. Tonight. And if you're not sold, I'll drive you back to the airport and buy a ticket for the next flight out." she held out her hand.
"Deal." Richard agreed and shook her hand. He was brought to the best places in New York. An outdoor bar, he saw a few celebrities, a couple of clubs, and then Rachel led him to the top of a building. They weren't supposed to be up there but it was beautiful and Rachel enjoyed her time up there.
"So what does your dad think of this? I know he's super important in Gotham."
"I actually haven't told him yet."
"Then that means you already know what he would say."
"Yeah. He'd say, go with your gut and don't be afraid to fall because I'd be proud of you no matter what you did." They were both quiet after that.
"He sounds like a smart guy."
"He is." Richard said looking out over the city. There was a strange awkward silence that became comfortable after a while.
"I know we shouldn't be up here but," she broke the silence "this is the only place where you can see the stars and the city lights. Its like, my own Jump City mountain top. The best part, no cell phone reception."
"So do you bring all of your clients up here?" he teased.
After a while of sorting through memory she answered. "Actually. No. You are the only one who knows about this spot."
"Thank you."
"If you tell anyone, I'll rip your ears off and staple them to your neck." she said with a straight face.
"Is everybody in this city violent?" he asked. She chuckled a little bit and took his arm leading him to the center of Jump City.
"A crowded area of people who push and shove. I thought you wanted me to stay." he joked.
"Just wait a second." she said. All of a sudden a group of people started dancing around and Richard went from stunned to confused.
"It's a flash mob." Rachel explained. " People just kind of do it for fun here."
"Should we move?" Richard asked over the music. They were in the midst of the crowd, and he didn't want to mess up the routine.
"No. You just have to enjoy it." she said smirking a little bit.
"I'll stay."
"What?" she asked a little surprised.
"I'm sold." he said smiling a little bit at her.
"Great. I'll drop some paperwork off and make it official tomorrow."
The Next Week
Richard greeted his employees and introduced himself as always having his door open.
He even took it off of its hinges and had it sent to the basement. "Hey man." he felt a tap on the shoulder.
"My name is Victor Stone. I'm the sports editor here at GQ."
"I'm a huge fan."
"Thank you so much. Just want to wish you a welcome. If you need someone to talk to, then I'm in Sports. Garth Fisher is in Relationships, Roy Harper is usually in Sex Advice Column, but he shifts, and Garfield Logan does the Health section."
"Thanks for letting me know." Richard nodded his head at the opportunity to make new friends.
"No problem. Welcome to GQ."
"Thanks." Vic walked away and Richard headed into his office to start working on new ideas.
"Hi." he heard a familiar monotone voice and turned to see Rachel. "I would've knocked but, you have no door."
"Yeah." he laughed. "Do you have the contract?"
"Right here." she pulled it out of her bag and set it down on the table. "Just sign, and I'll be out of your way."
He looked it over. "A whole year?" he asked and sighed.
"Why do I get the feeling you don't commit well?" she asked.
"Hey, I had a two year T-Mobile contract. Big mistake."
"Do me favor, don't quit before the year is up, or I don't get my bonus." she smirked.
"Wait, I can leave whenever I want? What's the point of the contract then?"
"Just sign the damn thing." She laughed a little before handing him a pen. "It's in your hands." he signed it and heard his stomach rumbling.
"Hey, do you know a good place to get lunch?"
She looked at him in disgust. "Are you asking me out?"
"Well. I'm not really. I wanted the name of a restaurant."
"Sure we'd have fun. Maybe fool around, and it would be cool for a while. But right now, I'm the only friend you've got in New York. You don't want to compromise that!"
"I'm NOT FUCKING ASKING YOU OUT!" he exclaimed. All of a sudden she looked downcast as if she might cry.
"You know if you didn't like me like that you didn't have to be so mean about it."
"I'm so sorry Rachel." she busted out laughing at him.
"God. You're so easy! Come on I'll take you to lunch my treat." she led him out of the office. "You looked like a friggin' puppy dog ready to beg for forgiveness."
At Lunch
"My brother gave me a lot of crap. But you know, he was happy for me." Richard said over lunch. His phone started vibrating.
"Is that your brother?"
"No. It's my ex- girlfriend. She wanted to stay friends. She also thinks she can cure me of my being emotionally unavailable."
"Really?" Rachel asked. "I'm apparently emotionally damaged. I haven't seen you at the meetings." he laughed at her joke and the phone vibrated again. He put it down again.
"I'm done with the relationship thing."
"You are preaching to the congregation."
"Choir." he corrected her.
"Didn't you understand what I was saying? Yes? Then don't be a dick about it." she shot back playfully. He just smirked back at her before the phone vibrated again.
"May I?" she asked before answering the phone.
"Be my guest."
"Hello. You have reached Richard Grayson's cell phone. He is emotionally unavailable at the moment so-" the call was lost and Rachel laughed. "Wow. You really do have shitty cell phone service."
"I told you." he laughed with her.
"I'm having a party with a few friends tonight. Why don't you come and meet some people. Some of them work at GQ in different departments. You could mingle."
"I'd have to check my schedule. I'm a pretty busy guy now." he teased. "I think I can squeeze you in though."
Later That Night
"You made it." she said as she answered the door. "I'm not one for parties but my friend Terra convinced me." she said as she led him through he apartment.
"Hey guys. This is Richard. He's from Gotham." A rip of boos erupted and Rachel calmed them down. "Whoa. Whoa whoa whoa whoa. Guys he's also the reason I can afford all this beer." They all cheered and tackled him. He actually felt welcome.
Rachel and Richard spent time playing around and drinking. They played on her Wii and did a few rounds of party games with other party goers. He passed out first and she drew on him with a marker.
In retaliation he invited everybody to a party at his place the next weekend and made sure he gave her enough beer to get her loose and pass out. He caught her with one arm outstretched and laid her down onto the couch. He used an invisible ink marker that glowed in the dark. At her next meeting. Green showed up all over her face making her look like a cat.
At Rachel's
Richard was over at Rachel's apartment watching a crappy romantic comedy.
"I wish my life were like a movie. You'd never have to worry about your hair and your make-up or using the bathroom."
"Why? They dish out crap and they play an upbeat song that has nothing to do with the plot, but it supposed to make the audience think that they enjoyed it."
"Why don't they ever make movies about what happens after the big kiss?" Rachel wondered out loud.
"They do." Richard said. "It's called porn."
"God I miss sex. I mean sometimes you just need it." she shifted next to him. "It's like cracking your neck."
"I know. Why does it have to come with so many complications?"
"And emotions."
"Exactly. Its all women's fault though."
"Excuse me?" she asked.
"Yeah 'Lets snuggle. Hold me. I wanna be with you forever.'" he quoted some of the lines his past girlfriends have used on him.
"Like you guys are any better?" she deepened her voice to quote her past boyfriends "Yeah 'Eh uh yeah. Right there. Say my name. Ugh eh ugh I'm done.'"
"Who the hell have you been with?" Richard stared at her in awe. She laughed a little bit. "Besides why can't it be like that? It's a physical act. Like playing tennis."
"Yeah. You want another beer?" she asked noticing her own bottle was empty.
"Sure." he accepted as she stood up and bent over to pick up some popcorn that ended up on the floor. She was unintentionally giving him a perfect view of her butt. He leaned his head to the side as if examining her black shorts thoroughly. She stood up still unaware he had been staring. She made her way up to the kitchen. All of a sudden Richard had an idea.
"Hey Rachel!" he called from the living room. "Lets play tennis."
A/N: Like I said. Loved it. Lolz. Hope you enjoyed.
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Much Love and Respect
~Poppie~
