Edward had no idea what Eva had planned for their little rendezvous. He was at the Gotham Community Theater at 2 a.m., just as she had instructed in her letter. Her letter. What a simple little note. He supposed it was meant to be that way, but honestly, a numerical sequence and letter that spelled out a message, child's play. It was as if she had gone back to elementary school. No matter, he would have time to voice his complaints tonight.

Walking into the building, he found it to be very clean for a community theater that put on plays with local youth groups, and aspiring actors. Unfortunately, he hadn't remembered to stop the door before it closed shut with a loud 'thud.' As soon as that had happened, another sound came from the backstage. There was a crash, then swears of a deep voiced woman.

He smirked; obviously he had caught his little rose off guard. He continued to stroll down the aisle, while hearing the faint noise of a zipper. We'll if she expects a repeat of last night she chose an odd place for it.

"Eva," he called as he stepped on stage. A movement in the curtain told his she was hiding in there.

"Oh well, I had thought she wanted this necklace back," he baited, pulling out the emerald necklace from last night, "It seems I'll have to keep it."

"That's a very lame attempt to get me out," she called back, surfacing from the thick curtain. Curiously, she was not wearing the Black Rose attire she normally wore; instead she had on a simple sweater and jeans.

"It worked didn't it?" He threw the jewelry towards her. Eva barely caught it before it touched the floor. She looked to it, then to Edward, a confused look on her face.

"I said you could have it, didn't I?"

"I thought it was because of your bad mood," she said, still staring warily at him. This felt like too much of a pay off, like she was a floozy off the street.

"Oh Eva, I thought you were an actress, how could you fall for such a ridiculous act," he chuckled.

"So, you have to trick girls into sleeping with you," she scoffed, "That makes sense, they wouldn't have done it otherwise."

"You seemed all too willing last night," he countered.

"Well," she paused, there really was no good reason for her actions, "I… felt sorry for you, you looked so pathetic, slouching like that."

"Oh Eva, I didn't know you cared," he clutched his heart in fake emotional expression, "I really am moved by your words."

Eva stared back, anger beginning to burn in her eyes. She had no words of her own to come back with, so she decided to use the words of her idol.

"Moved in good time. Let it that moved you hither remove you hence. I knew you at the first you were a moveable."

Her words certainly took Edward by surprise; he hadn't expected her to start quoting Shakespeare. When he saw his own smirk on her face, he knew he had to return her quotes.

"Why, what's a moveable," he asked.

"A joint stool," she returned sharply, not letting his jump into her game affect her.

"Thou hast hit it. Come, sit on me."

"Asses are made to bear, and so are you."

"Women are made to bear, and so are you," He took a step towards her.

"No such jade as you, if you mean," she mirrored his action.

"Alas, good Eva, I will not burden thee, for knowing thee to be but young and light." If she had noticed the usage of her name, she didn't show it.

"Too light for such a swain as you to catch and yet as heavy as my weight should be."

"Should be-should buzz."

"Well ta'en, and like a buzzard." She was beginning to enjoy their banter.

"O slow-winged turtle, shall a buzzard take thee." He also found himself smiling, rather than his usual conceited grin.

"Ay, for a turtle as he takes a buzzard."

"Come, come, you wasp. I'faith, you are too angry."

"If I be waspish, best beware my sting." She poked his chest for emphasis.

"My remedy is then to pluck it out." He pulled her hair to tease her.

"My, if the fool could find it where it lies." She turned from him, making sure to accentuate the way she walked, to entice him.

"Who knows not where a wasp does wear his sting. In his tail." He grabbed her arms and pulled her to him, her back pressed against his front.

"In his tongue," she turned to face him, an impish smile on her face.

"Whose tongue," he rested his hands on either side of her face.

"Yours if you talk of tales. And so farewell," though she was supposed to turn away, she found herself wanting to be closer.

"What, with my tongue in your tail? Nay, come again, good Eva. I am a gentleman." He leaned in. Despite the situation, Eva could not find it in herself to take it seriously. She began to laugh into his chest, holding onto his jacket for support.

"And what exactly is so funny," he tried not to show to how irritated he was that her teasing amounted to her laughing at him.

"It's just," she giggled to herself, "You're no actor. Petruchio acts like more of a bastard than even you can ever be. Plus, I kind of just imagined you in tights." She burst into a fit of laughter again.

"Well, I'd say Katherine is even more shrewish than you," he replied, with a frown on his face, "Now, while that was… interesting, I'd like to know why you brought me here. Unlike you, I have important things to do."

"I… just wanted to let you know-" she began seriously, snapping out of her previous mood, "that the other night…"

"Oh, is that all?" He rolled his eyes. "I can't count how many flings I've had with female partners, it really is no big deal.

"Oh, well…," Eva was surprised, she had expected him to tease or taunt her about it, but, he was taking it in stride.

"No, no, it really is nothing. In fact, I have a gift for you." He reached into his left jacket pocket and produced two theater tickets for Saturday night.

"Edward," she timidly reached for the tickets. Did this mean he was asking her out? No, he, couldn't could he? "I-I thought you said that…"

"Said what? I'm just giving tickets to a close acquaintance. You can go ahead and take whomever you like." Edward tipped his green bowler hat, gave one final condescending grin, and let her alone, holding his tickets.

He didn't have to look back to know that she had a dumbfounded look on her face, that she was confused by his actions. But she was not a complete idiot, she'd figure out what he had meant. Seconds later, the furious shouts and curses behind him when he left through the back door, told him she had.

Just to let you know, the dialogue that they were using is from Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew. It's one of Eva's favorite plays, a good read.