Another useless hack's note – As always, these characters do not belong to me, but to DC Comics. Just borrowing them, really. Enjoy the show, remember to tip the veal and try your waitress...
Moving with a speed unknown to most normal humans, Azrael leapt from his rooftop perch down into the alley below. He used one thug to break his fall, leaving him lying in the dirt of the alley, much the worse for wear. Turning to the crimson-clad woman he had landed next to, he attempted an Ollie-esque icebreaker.
"Is this a private party, or can anyone drop in?"
He thought it was witty. Really, he did. The woman in front of him, however, only grimaced at his attempt at a joke.
"Really, tall bright and golden, you are in Paris now, at least attempt to speak the language." She replied somewhat shortly, before throwing a roundhouse right into the face of the nearest gang member. "Are you just going to stand there gaping, or are you going to help?"
{Your wish is my command, my lady.} He replied in perfect French, before lashing out at the other two skels with a pair of punches of his own.
While the four had been giving the Crimson Fox a hard time by herself, they were no match for her with a partner of Azrael's militant efficiency. None of the combatants spoke a word as they fought, the gang members mostly because they weren't given time to, while Azrael and the Fox were simply concentrating on ending things as quickly as possible.
It took less than two minutes, by Azrael's innate sense of time, but it felt like forever. As the final thug fell, unconscious, the Fox finally broke the silence.
{Oh, mercy, I had meant to leave one awake for questioning! Oh, well, I suppose there will always be next time.} The Fox quipped as she stood over their fallen foes.
{I apologize, my lady. Had I but known you required one coherent, I would have been certain to leave one that way.}
The Fox circled slowly around Azrael, taking his full measure. As she passed behind him, she began to ask questions.
{While I am not ungrateful for the assistance, my knight in shining armor, to what do I owe the honor?}
{I was simply in the neighborhood,} Azrael replied truthfully.
{Hmm,} she continued as she came back around in front of him. {And who might you be, if I may be so bold?}
{I am known as Azrael,} he spoke, as he raised his hand in greeting, {Recently of Gotham City, but originally from here in Paris.}
A slight smile crept over the Vixen's features, as she thought about this last revelation. {Ah, so that explains your command of the language of love, if not the difference in your demeanor.}
{Excuse me? I do not understand your meaning.}
A true smile appeared now, as she drew a little closer to him. {Language aside, you are not speaking as you did when you 'dropped in' any more, cheri.}
Under the helmet Azrael's face began to burn as he had often felt it do when Jean Paul was embarrassed by a female. Imagine, an embarrassed angel! Jean Paul shot from somewhere deep in his mind.
Trying to cover his flustered feelings, Azrael continued. {I was recently given some advice by a friend on how to meet women in our line of work,} he said, then he paused for a moment. {Obviously the advice was not as good as I had thought it to be.}
This brought the desired result, as the smile on her face widened even further. One of the men on the ground started to stir, however, grabbing both of their attention. The Fox languidly walked over to the man, raised one foot high in the air, then brought it crashing down on his skull.
I swear she's showing off, Az!
Hush, mortal, while I turn the camera back on.
Pervert.
Deviant.
Heh, like I'm really going to stop you.
As the two argued mentally, Azrael reached down and started to toggle the video controls. Before he could, though, she turned back to face him.
{I suppose having one of them to question isn't as necessary as I thought,} she said simply, {For I have found someone much more interesting to question now.}
Jean Paul simply "whoa'd" in his mind as he actually caught her implication for once.
{What do you have in mind, my lady?} Azrael asked, somewhat hesitantly.
{It would be improper of me if I did not thank you properly,} she stated as she began walking towards him. {What do you say to meeting me for dinner, say seven-ish tomorrow night?}
{I would be delighted, but I feel I must ask; in costume or out?}
The Fox laughed daintily at his question, and began to turn away. "I'll show you mine if you show me yours," she coyly replied in English, before withdrawing a slip of paper from one of her boots. She looked back over her shoulder, winked at him slyly, and dropped the paper to the ground beside her before leaping up into a fire escape.
{See you soon!} was the last thing Jean Paul or Azrael heard, as she scampered off into the night. Azrael covered the distance quickly, picking up what was actually a small business card.
Vivian D'Arimous, Adventurer At Large, Jean Paul read mentally, as Azrael tucked the card into a pouch on his belt. Looks like it might have her address on there, too!
Mortal, I cannot believe the impropriety of this woman, Azrael replied with a hint of worry, We know that she should be trustworthy, since we are aware of her history with the Justice League. But why should she trust us?
I don't know, Jean Paul mused, perhaps we should have Oracle give us a bit more background on her.
An excellent suggestion, mortal, Azrael thought as he started to climb the fire escape himself, And we will act upon this idea tomorrow. For now, however, I still need to show you your ancestral home!
Gah! Not more boring history!
Azrael simply chuckled as he moved off into the night.
Hack's note – I know, I know, I'm going from a Metallica inspired chapter name to a Beatles inspired chapter name. So my taste in music is eclectic! Didn't really have anything playing while I wrote this one, though. Just liked the name for a title... =D