It had been the second day staying at this place, but today in particular, I woke up on the new mattress that was delivered yesterday, not feeling very brighten. A bit pissed off for some reasons, but I concealed it pretty well. I checked out the date on the calendar and spotted a red check mark on the next day. I got it. Mother Nature, it was good to know that I was not pregnant.
Well, with all the crap aside, today was also my first day at Harper's Financial Advisors. I walked there yesterday once to make sure I would not get lost when I was in hurry, so it should be an easy carefree walk on this nice cloudy day. Yes, cloudy, and I would not expect more of Gotham on this month or the next.
Then, right at eight-thirty, I was in my formal wear and ready to leave. It should only be a ten minutes walk, but I liked to take my time walking. I found it helpful to have a relax moment to reflect upon myself or make a checklist on my phone about what I needed to buy which was currently what I was doing.
It was about fifteen minutes to nine when I approached the blue, glass high rise with at least twenty floors. It was pretty in and out, but anything higher than ten floors meant long elevator wait. Luckily or as plan, I was early, so it was not much wait. I got to my floor at a recorded time, just to see the office almost empty. I guessed, I was too early, but soon, someone was ready to navigate me around.
By the end of the day, I was done with work and had some appointments booked with my first clients. They were not in desperate position and fell upon the typical-scenario category that universities already prepped us for. Although, the internships I had done were the one that made me ready for the job. I hoped it would be this easy at work forever because it would give me huge advantage to build up my reputation and work toward my certificate. But, that would not give me the value of work experience.
But, who actually cared about it? For one, I did not. I just work to make money, so I could have an early retirement and live on a cruise.
Well, that would be another twenty-five years at work, Andy, so I might as well leave this place when I could and get into a more comfortable clothes before errand.
I went home, taking the longer route to ignore the opening pub, and picked out a white tank top and jeans. I looked at the hamper where my favorite hoodies was and pulled out a classic black biker jacket from the closet. It had only been a couple day, and laundry was stacking up because of the cold weather. I sighed at all the new responsibilities after moving out and left the apartment with the one good thing, a warm, comfortable knee-high boots.
On the errand at a decent-pricing grocery store that was a little too uncomfortably close to the alley of crime, I casually bought some ingredients to make meatball spaghetti, some stir-fries with rice, and enough veggies to make any salad. Add bread to the list, and it was enough to sustain a week. But then, I saw apples and I bought a bag full. It happened again when I saw cereals, and I was tempted to buy a box with a gallon of milk. Not to mention, the strawberry jam that I could not resist. Well, it was not like I would resist when it come to strawberry. Then most importantly, I needed Aspirin. Although by the time I caught myself buying too much stuff, the sun was down and the cart was full.
Well, damn, how was I going to take all this home? And not to mention the safety I was in to walk home. Hfft, I should not have denied the money my parents were going to contribute to a new car.
There must be an alternative solution to this that would keep my hands from being too full. I looked left and right, and there is was, the perfect solution.
I walked to the checkout with a black, tall shopping trolley. One problem solved, but I still had to walk in the dark. Hopefully, I would not cross path with any murderer, or worse muggers.
And... the coincidence. I was only two minutes outside from a six-minutes walk, and there was already a gun aiming at my back.
"Turn around," the person commanded.
I did as he told and raised two of my hand up. The person was all covered up from head to toes, but he was left handed which was to my advantage.
I made myself looked small and defenseless to let his guard down and asked, "What do you want?"
"Money, phone, whatever you have on the ground."
I lowered my right hand like I would to get my phone, but I pulled his left wrist toward me instead. I disarmed him and moved away with his gun in my hand.
"Don't shot!" he yelled, as he took off his mask and went down on his knees.
He was about ten years older than me. It really ticked me off to see that because I always believed that everyone had enough potential in them for something than to commit petty crime to get drugs.
"Fine, but don't go anywhere. I'm calling the police." I put the gun on my left hand, still pointing toward his leg. I saw him trying to escape, so I threatened, "By no means am I left handed, but I'll assure you I won't miss." It took a couple seconds after the call for someone to pick up, and when someone did, I made the worst decision. I took an eye off the guy.
My, God, if this was not the worst day of my life as well! And I had not got to all the hormones shit that did not help but add irritations to everything.
He was taking the chance while I was on the phone to run for his life, but apparently, it was not fast enough. I gave him a spin hook kick on his temple while he was getting up. He should go down cold. I did not hear anymore movements, so I completely ignored him until the call ended.
"Now, we're just gonna wait for the police here quietly," I said to myself, well to him if he was not knocked out.
"Heh, I was about to help, but it seems like you got him good," another voice came in.
I was startled, but that was compared to nothing when I saw who said it. "Oh... my... God...," I backed away. I must have been dreaming or something, but that was a hood and it was red. "Oh, my God! Hood?!"
"Yup. In the flesh, and still living and breathing."
Oh, my God! Did he just answered my question? What should I do? What should I do?! I meant, was he even real? I reached out and lightly touched his arm and pulled back right away. Holy shit... He was real.
"Oh, my God! You're the Red Hood! Can I get your autograph? A handshake? A hug? A kiss, maybe?" Fuck, yeah! I was prepared for this my whole life!
He looked dumbfounded for a moment, but how could I know since I could not actually see his face.
"An autograph? Err... Sure," he finally said it, and I gave him a pen and one of my business cards. I watched him sign the card, and the atmosphere he generated almost seem friendly and unthreatening. It almost consumed the fact that he was a big guy and an intimidating one. Then, he passed the things back to me, and I could not help but let out a quite squeal.
"A handshake? Done," he lended his hand out, and I gratefully shook it.
"A hug?" he repeated, more like he did not want to than did.
I looked at him with the best puppy eyes I had got and blinked several times.
"Fine," he sort of pouted.
"Thank you," I squealed and opened my arms widely. I waited for him to do the same, and he eventually did. The hug did not last long, but it made my whole day a lot better.
"It's a real pleasure to meet you. Oh, and here is the gun," I handed him the loaded gun from the mugger. "I'll be looking forward to see you again!"
"Wait, what? I'm an outlaw, you know. It means, I'm a bad person. I kill people. I could just kill you, right now. Look you even gave me the perfect cover with this weapon. Why will you even want to see me ever again?"
"Good to know that you know, you're an outlaw. Most of them are scumbags. 'Could', past tense. You're not going to kill me right now, or in the future. Since you might not kill me in the future, I might as well want to see you again. And what kind of a bad person neutralizes the most crime-ridden alley, makes sure homeless kid get a place to sleep at night, and looks at prostitutes as a human-being like they deserved to be? None, but one apparently. Well, at last, I'm just a fan," I supported my idea and paced to the troller I left about two steps away. I waved good-bye and continued my walk home. I looked over my shoulder once more just to catch one last glimpse and bit my lip.
"Eh, fuck it!" he suddenly uttered. "When will I get to kiss a hot, badass lady, if I don't take the chance now."
My heart was pounding at each step he took toward me. When he was too close for me to make any detail of his face, he took off his red helmet and brushed his lips against mine. It was only for a short moment, but I felt something was pulling my legs. He pulled away, and I quickly looked down at our shoes. Damn, I did not expect that and not the weird feelings I had right now either. The strange, yet pleasant feelings that should not have happened if I was just admiring the person.
Man, I really needed a step away, but I was not sure if that was a good idea for all the hidden identity thing.
"Did you feel it?" he puzzled at last after a moment; that was probably the reason he was still there. Again, I understood that he was barely a foot away from me so I could not see his face, but right now, he was a bit too close and without the voice modifier, I swore I heard his voice somewhere before.
"Feel what?"
"I don't know. Like something just clicked?"
"Err... Kinda, but mine was more like someone's pulling my legs. Not in a bad way though. Why?"
He hesitated and asked, "Can I... kiss kiss you?"
My face started burning even more to the question. "Kiss kiss me?"
"Like a proper kiss."
I hesitated as well, but I was also curious to what it was. "Yeah, sure."
He cupped my cheek, and I closed my eyes. He kiss kissed me. It was soft and light at first, but all of them were deeper and rougher than the one before. Yet, I felt like melting into his tenderness. He pulled me closer with his arm around my waist to deepen the kiss, as I rest my hands on his broad chest and felt myself sinking lower into something until the sound of the police sirens approached, and I broke the kiss.
His head laid low on my shoulder, and I grasped some air over his. Holy shit, whatever the feelings were before, I felt it even worse- Ah! He suddenly exhaled on my neck, and it made my whole body tickled.
He paused when he noticed my reaction and snickered... My, God! Even the snicker sounded too familiar, but I could not match it with anyone. Did I met him somewhere before?
"Good night," he cut my train of thoughts with a soft whisper and walked by me.
I turned to the direction he headed, but all I could do was replying to the darkness, "Good night."
