Maria sighed as she opened her eyes as if from a dream like state. She stood under the scalding water of the shower. She quickly cried out. It was too hot. She shut her eyes tight while trying to change the water.. The door to the bathroom was thrown open.
"Maria?" the voice sounded uncertain.
Maria succeeded in shutting the water off. She poked her head out to look at Lidia.
"Who made the water so hot?" Maria asks in her softer, friendly, happy voice.
"You must have bumped it while bathing, Maria," Lidia says with a kind smile.
Sure Lidia was scared of Jezika. But she loved her. Jezika was like a daughter to her. Lidia looked at the Jezika/Maria problem as this: Jezika didn't quite understand how to handle the emotions she was feeling. She hadn't felt emotions since she was but a child, beyond anger and hate that is. So she had made another personality, another person to feel those emotions for her. It was like another chance at life for Jezika. The new Jezika loved Maria. Maria was her way of normality. She hated how violent she was, but she saw it as necessity. Life. She knew it would happen eventually and had fought it, but in the end…she had given in for the first time in her life. Embraced it. Maria on the other hand… didn't know this, nor did she wish to know fully. She understood that there was another personality she shared the body with, but nothing beyond that. Jezika thought it best that way.
Maria smiled a little later as she came out of the bathroom in tight, low rise jeans. Her top was the one she had worn to the premier. Maria's hair was up in a towel. Lidia was a bit nervous of how she would react to her hair.
"How do I look?" she asks while turning around in one spot with flashy red sandaled high heels. She was going for the look of how the red made her pale skin stand out, look great. The jeans were a faded blue. Nice.
"Great," Lidia says while smiling kindly.
Maria went for the bathroom. The sound of a knock at the door drew Lidia's attention. Lidia opened the door and glanced at the person.
"Ah," Lidia says in a happy tone. "Miss Quinnzel, I'm so glad you came."
Harleen flashes a smile while looking about the room she stood in. More like rooms. It was almost like the Presidential suit for the hotel. It was nicely fashioned and decorated with a Victorian theme of white, red, black and metal of varying shades. It was fancier than she had seen before. Well, besides in the Headmaster's office of her college.
A shrill scream came from the bathroom. Seconds later, before Lidia could rush to her, Maria was in the room, gripping her hair in her hands. She was clearly horrified.
"My hair! Who dyed my hair blond?!" she shrills.
"Maria, we went to the stylist today to fix it. You were bothered by your blond roots starting to show," Lidia says calmly while sitting at the couch and putting her laptop on her lap.
"I meant my natural color," she cries.
"That is your natural color, Maria. Blow-dry it and the golden glow will come out," Lidia says while typing.
Harleen looked at the
woman with slightly wide eyes. She looked stunning even in something
so simple. Why? Some women are just lucky that way. Maria shrugged
and went to dry her hair.
"Is that what you're wearing?"
Maria calls from the bathroom.
Harleen glances at Lidia. Lidia gives her a look that said Maria was clearly speaking to Harleen. She looks down at her clothes. She had on her clothes from work. A reddish pink blouse tucked into her black business skirt. Nylons and heels graced her feet. She thought she looked good.
"What's wrong with my clothes?" Harleen defends.
"Hun," Maria says from the bathroom doorway, hip cocked out and hair dry. It hung in smooth ringlets, held back with clips on one side. No. Her hair was damp. "We are going out. You are in desperate need of a make over."
Maria crossed the space between the women in a few long strides. She looked the woman before her over, thoughtful.
"What do you need the glasses for?" Maria asks while staring at the outdated things on the smaller blonde's face.
"Reading?" she sounded like she wasn't sure.
Maria frowns lightly in thought before pulling the things from her face and throwing them over her shoulder. She neither looked nor cared where they landed. Maria pulled the clip from Harleen's hair and threw it too. Lidia would gather them. Maria smiled as she took Harleen's hand and pulled her to her to the bathroom. The woman had perfectly straight hair. Harleen was assaulted by make up and Maria's careful touch and attention to her task. That task was Harleen.
Harleen was a little nonplused when a few of the buttons of her blouse were loosened. The slightest flash of cleavage showed. Maria stood back. Proud of her work. The relaxing of the buttons made the clothes look good. Not so strict. Her hair was left down and her make up was simple. Just focusing more on the eyes and the full lips that seemed so thin without the light gloss.
"Now," Maria says while checking her self in the mirror. She had opted for only mascara and clear lip gloss. Still the tiny effort was outstanding. "We are ready to go."
Maria glances out the bathroom door at Lidia. Maria had stuffed her slim wallet into her tight back pocket before looking out at the woman. Lidia was oblivious to them.
"So we have to be calm about this," Maria whispers back to Harleen. "You have your ID and such with you right?"
Harleen was unsure of what Maria was talking about. But she nodded her head either way. Maria flashes a devious smirk. She was up to something. The door opens coolly. Maria glides out of the bathroom, falsely fluffing her hair. She filches the sleek purple touch screen phone from the table while going by Lidia.
Lidia's head snaps up as they go toward the door. Her eyes are narrowed a bit.
"Where do you think you're going, Maria?" she demands.
"To talk with Victor next door," Maria says with a happy smile.
"Alright. Hurry back," Lidia says, relaxing and going back to work with a light smile.
Maria went out the door slipping the phone in her front pocket. They do not stop at the door. Harleen's brow knits a bit as she stays at Maria's side. What were they doing? Maria giggles as the elevator doors open. Victor stands in it, relaxed against the wall, looking at the women with a sexy smirk.
"You go out," he says.
"It's almost too easy," Maria laughs as the women step in.
Maria takes the other corner, leaving Harleen to stand between them. She does take the place, but feels a little uncomfortable. She's standing next to the hottest man in the United States. Harleen Quinnzel. She fought off the light blush she knew was trying to creep onto her cheeks.
Her thoughts were stopped though. The walls of the lift were mirrored. She was able to see what Maria had done to her. Harleen's breath caught. The woman staring back at her looked like she belonged with all of the beautiful people of Gotham. She didn't shine as well as Maria, but who could? Maria didn't shine from just her outer beauty. The only thing Harleen could really say was… she looked hot.
She didn't feel as out of place now. Victor was even looking her over. He smirked as he noticed her looking at him.
"You were right, Maria," Victor says as the doors open and they all pile out of the lift.
"I told you she was a beautiful woman. She just needed a little push," Maria says happily linking her arm with Harleen's.
A taxi sat waiting at the curb. The doorman for the hotel held the door open for them. He smiled at the trio as they all got in the taxi. Harleen had pictured them in a limo or some other flashy vehicle. Nothing was said during the ride. It wasn't even an awkward silence. It was pleasant. Though, that could be because Maria was basically radiating with joy. When the taxi stopped, Maria basically burst from it.
She was so eager to go out. Harleen finally noticed what Victor had on. He wore top of the line jeans, just like Maria, his were dark though. His top was a white button up top, sleeves rolled up to just under the elbows. It looked like the perfect clubbing outfit. He was looking around the area cautiously. He reached out and grabbed Maria's elbow. The area wasn't really the best at this time of night. After 5 p.m. this part of town was generally avoided. It was just outside of downtown Gotham. The territory of a mob.
"Maria, stay close," Victor says in his deep, smoky voice.
"I'll be fine, Vic," she says with a smile before looking at their destination. "It's right there."
"I don't want you getting far from me."
He let go though. Harleen understood his worry for Maria. She looked like the perfect target. She went right up to the line of people though. Passing them by and going for the door. The bouncers looked at her. One held the list by the red velvet rope and the other stood back by the door as muscle. She smiled at them as Victor and Harleen stood close behind her.
The people in the line were starting to whisper. The cry went up though.
"VICTOR VALENTINE!" Girls screamed trying to rush them. "MARIA!!"
The bouncer quickly lifted the rope. Maria's eyes were wide as she was grabbed by Victor and pulled in. She held on to Harleen's hand tight, dragging her behind them. The door to the place shut fast. They all relaxed.
Maria quickly forgot about it. The inside was like most other clubs. The only difference was the quality. Everything was classy. Nothing cheep in this place. It was crowded, but most people stuck to the tables, cushions, and bar. The dance floor seemed empty compared to other clubs.
Maria ran for the dance floor. Victor said nothing. Harleen stood by him. She seemed unsure of what to do.
"You're not going after her?" she asks, glancing at him.
"Nah," he says while going for the bar. "She'll stay in sight."
He sat, turning his chair to keep her in his sights. Harleen does the same, mainly watching her. A few girls quickly joined her.
"Does she know them?"
"Nope," Victor says, lighting a cigar. "She's charismatic."
Harleen could see that. She danced and laughed with the girls like she'd known them forever.
"Drink?" Victor asks.
She looks at him. He's got that sexy look on again. Why not? She needs to relax anyway. She smiles at him. "Martini."
The bartender got to it quickly. They both started to talk, not paying as much attention to the reborn again blond on the dance floor.
Maria smiled as the girls danced with her. They were talking about their date. They had both come with the same guy.
"He's not dancing though," the brunette says while the girls dance, trying to all stay in time with each other. All are smiling.
"Maybe he had a long day at work," Maria supplies while the other girl, the one with raven black hair adjusts the strap to her dress.
They all giggle at the thought. What man would leave these beautiful women alone in this place? It's crawling with handsome men just looking for women like them. The two girls stop giggling to watch something. Maria looks up to follow their eyes. A handsome man with slicked back hair. In the dark room with the flashing lights it looked dark brown. He was pale and looking right at Maria.
"He's looking at you," the raven haired one whispers, dancing closer.
Maria blushes a bit and turns her eyes away quickly. No matter being a model, movie star, or sure of her looks, she was still shy at times. The man had nobody around him. He was leaning back in his chair. Blatantly looking right at her. She could feel the weight of his gaze.
Maria does blush as the blond grabs her hips. Both of the girls she was dancing with started to grind in time. Maria was definitely shy about things such as that. The girls giggled as one as Maria slipped from their grasp.
"Oh, come now," the blond laughs. "It's not like people don't touch you like that."
Maria looks away from them, brushing the hair from her face. The girls stop giggling. They are serious now. Maria is saved though.
"There you two are," a smooth male voice says as he comes over.
Maria looks at the man. "Mr. Wayne," she says with a bright smile.
He looks at her like he had just noticed her. Maria nervously pushes her blond curls behind her shoulders. She wasn't so sure about her hair now.
"Miss Harthen," Wayne says with a smile. "I didn't recognize you at first. When did you have your hair done?"
"This morning," she says, clearly pleased that he didn't hate it. "My roots were starting to show."
Wayne smiles as he watches her mess with her hair. It was rather warm in here and he was surprised she had yet to put it up. The girls she had been dancing with both lean into him.
"Bruce, you know her?" the blond asks pleased that he did.
"She's such a nice woman," the raven haired one said while playing with Maria's hair.
Maria wasn't sure how to react to the one messing with her hair. She just paid it no mind. She still smiled though.
"We were just talking about you," the blond says while looking up at Wayne.
"I hope good things," he chuckles.
"We were wondering why you wouldn't dance," Maria says truthfully. "We were talking about how many men in the place would kill to dance with them and here they are, their date not dancing with them."
Wayne looks around the room, pretending to scan the men. "You all are certainly drawing male attention. I had thought you girls would like a little time to yourselves before I stole you away for dinner," he says with a laugh.
Maria smiles at the girls. "See, he had only good intentions," Maria says to the girls.
"Would you like to join us, Maria?" Wayne asks while smiling at her.
Maria bites her lip. She wasn't too sure. She hardly knew Mr. Wayne. Her main worry was Victor and Harleen. But she mainly brought Harleen for the date with Victor. Maria glances at the bar where the two were drinking and talking, getting along famously. She glances at Wayne again.
"Um… Wouldn't I be intruding?" she asks glancing at the trio before her.
"Of course not," the girls say in unison. "We would love if you joined us."
Maria bites her lip again before looking back at Victor. She fingers the phone in her pocket. A simple text could inform him. But he would be upset with her leaving. And it would be rude to just leave without telling them.
"I don't know. I'm not really supposed to be out of the hotel," she says doubtfully. "And Victor is …" She sets her jaw and stands straighter. She's not going to prance around for them. This is her life. She'll have fun if she wishes. She hardly has friends as it is and here are three people willing to be her friend. "I'll just go tell my friends I'm leaving, Mr. Wayne."
"Call me Bruce," he says with a smile.
Maria smiles back before going to the bar quickly. Neither Victor nor Harleen notice her. Maria touches Victor's shoulder. He turns to look at her. He smiles.
"I'm going, Victor," Maria says while looking him in the eye. "Bruce and his dates are going to take me to dinner and then we are going to hang out."
"Bruce? I don't want you going anywhere without me, Maria," he says suddenly frowning and voice turning hard.
"Bruce Wayne, Victor," Maria says defending him. "I'll be fine. We're going to a public place anyway. I'll have him drop me off at the hotel."
"Maria, it's not safe. You don't know him."
"I'll be fine," she says with a reassuring smile. "I'm sorry for leaving you, Harleen. This was supposed to be a date for you two though."
Harleen blushed a bit. Maria smiled again before leaving them. Victor was ready to rush after her. Harleen stopped him though. Maria was a grown woman. She would be fine. The man that had been staring at Maria smiled as she glanced at him on her way over to Bruce.
She smiled back. The women smirked to each other. Maria smiled at Bruce, turning her focus from the man against the wall to the man with the women on his arms.
"Let's go before Victor decides that I'm not fit to be out of his sight," Maria says with a light laugh.
