Disclaimer: Characters belong to DC comics. I am not for profit.
Sitting in the VIP room of Ivan Zsasz's strip club, Carmine Falcone and Ivan enjoyed a succulent dinner. The Romanian Ibanescu and Bulgarian Antonov families had been punished for the kidnapping and attempted murder of the Zsasz family. Oxana, Ivan's wife, had gone to the Falcone mansion to ask for help, after receiving the note of Ivan's kidnapping. None had thought that Svetlana, Ivan's mother, had also been kidnapped. A joke, said Nikolay Antonov when Ivan questioned him carefully. Victor wanted to question him, but knowing how close his grandmother and him were, Carmine didn't see fit to leave him, so he sent him to watch Jim Gordon, fearing the families would hit him in retaliation. It had been a very pleasant surprise for Carmine to find out that Gordon had saved the Zsasz family. And when the rumor had hit the streets, families had turned to Carmine to confirm if Gotham's only honest cop had, in the end, succumbed.
"He doesn't." Carmine told them. "Gordon was just doing his job. He didn't know who he was saving, though I think he wouldn't have cared."
But that had been the beginning of the talk between the families. Gordon was a strange man, neither family seemed to know how to get Gordon close to them, how to get close to Gordon or what to expect from him. This amused Carmine greatly, because not even the Penguin seemed to know how to proceed with Gordon.
"It's been three days since the incident, Carmine," Ivan said, cutting his sirloin. "Gordon still hasn't approached us. We don't know what he wants, or how to thank him."
"He's not going to get close, Ivan," answered Carmine, clearly amused. "The boy is like his father. Do you remember what Peter was like in the beginning? We all hated each other. He was hell-bent on putting us in jail and we wanted to bring him down."
- Good times, Carmine.-Iván said smiling.-I remember when Peter secretly married your sister Sofía. Too bad Maroni killed her shortly after Jim was born. I think that's where our alliance started. I wonder if Gordon knows what really happened. Have you thought that perhaps this effort to bring us down is simply revenge for not having been able to protect his parents?
"I think he doesn't even know we're family," Carmine said sadly. "Peter was very reserved on those issues. He didn't want to involve Jim unless it was strictly necessary. His loss was very painful for me, when he died we were quite close, as a true family should be."
"Perhaps we should introduce ourselves correctly," Ivan suggested. "I owe it to Peter's memory, he died protecting me from a League of Shadows hit. He practically died in my arms. If Gordon finds out about that, he might take it badly."
-I don't think that boy takes it badly, he's too kind.
- Mom.-Iván and Carmine got up politely.
"Mrs. Zsasz," Carmine greeted.
- Don Falcone.-Svetlana greeted respectfully.-Son.
-We didn't know you were coming, mother.-Iván said, indicating one of his employees to bring her a chair.-I'm surprised that no one notified me of your presence.
- I was the one who asked him, son.-said Svetlana.-I knew you were going to meet here today and I decided to come. Jim Gordon should be here, although this may not be his style. Do you know if he is single? Victor needs someone reliable in his life.
Don Falcone smiled at Ivan's desperation. He had always been surprised by how jovial Mrs. Svetlana Zsasz was, whose grandson had inherited his character and charisma. Ivan got desperate every time his mother tried to date Víctor.
- Victor is not one of those who pair up, mother.-Iván said.
- That's what you said before I introduced you to your wife, son.-said Svetlana.-And you've been married for more than thirty years. I know that times change and that Victor can enjoy his sexuality openly, unlike what happened in our time, but those very restrictive laws gave us a lot of profit with our underground bars and clubs. Have I mentioned how delighted I am with Detective Gordon? It is a pity that I am so old and he is so young. Perhaps he wouldn't mind the age? Maybe he likes older women. That boy has inherited his father's ass!
"Mom!" Ivan looked at her in horror.
Don Falcone laughed freely. Svetlana was a very difficult woman to please, but once she fell into her good graces, she was protective and motherly. At seventy, Svetlana retained all of her sanity, mental faculties, agility, flexibility and dexterity, she was a regular customer of the Foxglove. She exercised daily, ate healthy, and ran the Russian family's business if Ivan or Oxana were away. The panic that Don Falcone knew Ivan felt was not unfounded, Svetlana had been talking about the detective practically since Gordon rescued her. Coming from a mobster who preferred to avoid the police altogether, Gordon must have worked some kind of miracle to win her over. But then again, it was Jim Gordon they were talking about, the hero of Gotham. Secretly, Don Falcone had a list of all the villains obsessed with Jim Gordon, he would have to add Svetlana to the list when he got home. Not even Peter had that many admirers. There was something about Gordon that drew the worst kind of people and made them obsessed with him.
- You didn't see how he defended us, Ivan.-said Svetlana dreamily.-Gordon is a protector, an honest and hard-working man. Like holy Peter Gordon! It's what Victor needs. The best of Gotham! I'm not letting Victor date just anyone, and Gordon has my blessing.
"Does Victor know?" Ivan asked, staring at her.
- I haven't told him yet.-said Svetlana.-I wanted to arrange a dinner between them, so that they could get to know each other, see that they are made for each other, before one of them finds out that it was all our idea.
- Our? I don't intend to participate in this nonsense!-Ivan said.
- It's not nonsense, it's family matters.-Svetlana replied firmly.-I'm not going to let Victor end up married to any prostitute, interested, or whore who shame our family! This also works for men. Do you have any idea how hard it is to find someone decent in Gotham? And don't argue with me, Ivan!
- Víctor is the only one who must decide who he wants to be with.- answered Ivan.
- He will decide in the end, son. But how is he going to meet someone if he is working all day? By the way! Where is Victor? I thought he would be here.
"He's with Gordon," answered Don Falcone.
-Wonderful!-said Svetlana excitedly.-Apparently my grandson and I have the same tastes. Did I mention how handsome Detective Gordon is? I hope that Victor is doing everything that I would do.
"Mom!" Ivan scolded in horror.
- What? It's the truth!-said Svetlana.-And now we are going to eat. I'm starving!
Don Falcone was overjoyed that Jim Gordon had saved Mrs. Zsasz. This city would not be the same without her.
