Chpt.8

To say that Indira was competitive was an understatement. She seemed to want to decimate her opponents. No one could beat her at anything. Except for Jason that is.

"You're cheating." Indira grunted as she stared at the chess board.

"It's a bit difficult to cheat at this game." Jason informed. "Especially when you're eyes are glued to the board so I can't swap pieces." He added with a chuckle.

"How is this possible? No matter what I do, I can't win." She grumbled and Jason laughed.

"Ain't it great how things work out?" Indira shot Jason a disgruntle look, but then sighed heavily, putting one of her pawns into place.

"Checkmate." Jason grinned as he made his final move.

"I'll beat you next time." Indira growled.

"Sure you will." Jason smiled. "I think that's the fourth time you said that."

"No, I'm serious. Next time I will beat you." She stated firmly, and Jason raised an eyebrow.

"Really? Then let's play again."

"You're on!" Indira grinned as he started to set up the chess board.

They started to play and the game seemed evenly matched. So far no one had the upper hand.

"Since you are going to win, how about we make this game a bit more interesting." Jason stated with a smug smile perched on his lips.

"What do you mean?" Indira questioned, causing Jason to chuckle.

"if you win, then I have to take you out to a restaurant of your choice…"

"Dressed in a tux." Indira added. Jason looked at her, perplexed.

"A tux?" he questioned.

"Yeah, I haven't seen you wear one." she informed. Jason paused for a moment, a small smile on his face, then continued.

"Alright, so if you win, I will take you to your favorite restaurants while wearing a tux." He nodded. "But if I win, which we both know simply can't happen, then you have to come with me to a restaurant that I like while wearing that sexy red dress that's in your closet." He smirked.

"H-how did you know about my dress? When were you in my closet?" Indira questioned, wide eyed.

"I did the wash and put it away when you were sick, remember? I saw the dress in the side of your closet." He explained, and then added with a chuckle, "I liked your panties by the way."

Indira's face was crimson red.

"You're such a perv!" she exclaimed.

"I'm just telling you my opinion!" Jason laughed. Once his laughter died down, and noticed the look on Indira's face, he smirked. "Then again, you don't have to take the bet. I mean, I thought you were positive that you were going to win this round, but…"

"No. I'll take the bet." Indira stated firmly. Jason chuckled. Indira was too proud for her own good.

Indira quickly realized that Jason was going easy on her in the previous games. He was making moves that were completely blind to her until pointed out, and by that time, it was too late. Jason had her queen down in less than ten minutes.

"Well, that was fun." Jason smirked. Indira was frozen, staring at the chess board, hardly comprehending what just happened.

Jason slowly got up and stood behind her, leaning his face next to her ear.

"Let's see if we can find some shoes for you to match your dress." He chuckled and Indira groaned unenthusiastically, placing her head in her hands.

Jason kissed the top of her head, still smirking.

"You're a size five right? I'll just get you your shoes and drop them off for you to wear for the dinner tonight." Jason said as he started to walk out the door.

~*~*~*~*~Later~*~*~*~*~

Indira looked at herself in the mirror with a frown. Her hair was down past her should in ringlets. However, her hair wasn't her problem. It was the dress.

It was a present she got from the gang before she left. Despite how much she hated being in the gang, they were like her family.

"Here Bajita." chuckled Tito, one of the boys from the gang. "We all got you this." "We thought that you might be able to… meet some guys." Manuel shrugged as Indira opened the box.

"Gotham is a party city after all." Rob shrugged.

Indira eyes widened at the dress.

"Guys…" Indira stated and a strong hand clapped her shoulder.

"Come on Bajita, you need to get out there more." Her mentor, Ramon, laughed. "You're starting a new life. Have some fun."

Indira sighed as she looked at the dress. The guys really knew how to make her look good. However, what she didn't like were the scars. They were even more visible due to the dress cut. It was strapless, showing off her shoulders and it was a heart shape cut and the dress ended past her knees. Her arms, chest, shoulders, calves, and upper back were exposed.

She refused covering them despite how much she disliked them. She had no shame in them, so she was not going to cover them. If they detracted from her beauty, so be it.

Jason had dropped off some black shoes for her, and thank god he knew her well enough to spare her high heels.

She walked out the door on the porch, waiting for Jason to show up while she looked at a scar on her hand.

"Bajita! Watch out! He's got a-"Tito began, but it was too late as the man jabbed the knife at her hand, slicing it.

"Wow." Indira snapped out of the memory and laid her eyes on Jason. "Why don't you look sexy." He grinned.

Indira was completely dumbstruck as she gazed at Jason. He was wearing a tux.

"Jason… you look… amazing." She smiled, staring at him wide eyed

The tuxedo was black and Jason wore matching slacks and loafers. Under the tux he wore a fiery red vest that made a stunning contrast along with an equally red tie. "But, I thought that I had to win for you to wear a tux?"

Jason chuckled and lightly shrugged.

"I figured that if you were getting all dolled up, I might as well too." He informed as he hooked his arm around hers.

"Now, would you like to get some dinner?" he questioned.

Indira nodded, still staring breathlessly at his suit. Jason didn't mind it in the least, and they were off.

Jason chose a restaurant that wasn't extremely fancy, but wasn't very casual either. It was a good in-between.

Jason chuckled as they waited for their main courses (beef and barely soup for Indira, steak for Jason) to arrive.

"Why don't you wear that more often, Indi. You look gorgeous in it." He smiled.

Indira shrugged.

"I… don't know. I'm not used to exposing this much skin." She informed as she absentmindedly ran her hand over one of her scars on her arm.

"Rob, look out!" Indira exclaimed as she shoved the boy out of the way, the knife that was aiming to strike Rob's throat nicked her arm instead.

"Hm, I like it." Jason nodded with an appreciative hum. He smiled when he was able to provoke a blush from her.

~*~*~*~*~Later~*~*~*~*~

"Jason?" Indira questioned as she was finishing some of the chocolate cake they got.

"Hm?" he questioned with a mouthful of ice cream.

"Was this a date?" she questioned timidly. Jason looked at her with an unreadable face, swallowed the food in his mouth, then wiped the remnants off his face with a napkin.

"Do you want this to be?" Jason questioned softly, looking her in the eyes.

Indira slowly grabbed his hand that was on the table and intertwined her fingers with his.

"Yes, I do." She nodded and Jason grinned, leaning over the table to give her a chaste kiss on the lips.

"I did too." He smiled.

~*~*~*~*~Layer~*~*~*~*~

While walking back to Indira's house, Jason noticed a scar he hadn't before. It went from her upper back, to her should, dipping down towards her chest.

"Never seen this one before." Jason informed as he traced the scar with his finger and gave it a dry kiss. Indira shivered from the attention, but sighed.

"Let me go you bastard!" Indira exclaimed from the chair she was tied to.

"I simply cannot understand," began a man with raven black hair who was the leader of a gang her gang was against. "why they thought it was smart to have a girl part of the team." He sighed as he twirled around a knife. "It's a bit stupid if you ask me. You were hardly a match for my men."

"You want a match? Untie me and I'll give you a match you son of a bitch. Your bones will be broken in more than 100 places once I'm done with you." She growled.

"Temper. Temper." Tutted the man.

He then got closer to her and gave the girl a hard look, then slowly smirked.

"I see why they keep you around." He nodded knowingly. Next thing she knew, he was straddling her tied body on the chair, ferociously kissing her lips. Meanwhile he jabbed his knife into her back and slowly brought it up to her collarbone, drawling blood. Indira groaned in pain, and the man chuckle.

"After pain come pleasure." He smirked evilly. Next thing she knew, he was on the ground, dead. Blood was pooling from his head.

Indira looked up to see her mentor, Ramon.

"Bajita." He whispered. He quickly freed her and then gave her a strong hug. Indira shook and cried into his shoulder, feeling violating and truly frightened.

"It's okay Bajita." He soothed. "It's okay."

Indira looked at Jason seriously.

"Not all scars have goofy stories. I'd rather not share this one." she informed softly, and no matter how much Jason wanted to know, he suppressed his questions.

"I understand." He nodded, but gave her hand a gentle squeeze.

The two finally reached Indira's house again.

"Indira?" Jason questioned, and she looked at him curiously.

"Yes?"

"Can you do something for me?" he inquired.

"Sure." She shrugged. Jason smiled and kissed her forehead. "Tell me you're beautiful." He stated. Indira stared at him, taken back by his request.

"What?"

"Beautiful. Say it. Tell me you're beautiful."

"I am beautiful." She said shyly.

"C'mon Indi, you're louder than that."

"I am beautiful!" she said a bit louder.

"LOUDER!"

"I AM BEAUTIFUL!" Indira exclaimed and Jason smiled as he pulled her in for another kiss. Once they broke away, Jason smirked at her.

"Don't you forget it."