"I Haven't Met You Yet" written by Michael Buble, Alan Chang, and Amy Foster-Gilles. Released on Aug. 2009 on the album, Crazy Love, under the label 143*Reprise.
"Quando, Quando, Quando" was written by Tony Renis in 1962. It was originally in Italian. The version I use comes from the album, It's Time, and performed by Michael Buble and Nelly Furtado.
I own neither song . . . Just love them and thought they would work very nicely here. Check them out for yourself.
WARNING: Some Strong Language . . .
The door opened even as their visitor knocked.
"Hey! Hope you guys aren't naked," Jason yelled as he entered the bedroom with a hand over his eyes, just in case. "You weren't in the office, and time stops for no man . . . Or woman. Not being misogynist here or whatever."
"Oh my God! Jason! We're naked! Get out!" Elle shrieked, causing Jason to jump back, bumping into the door. But that only caused the door to ricochet off the wall with a bang and slam into him a second time.
"What the fuck!" He stumbled, blushing hard as he attempted to get out of the room without looking.
He hadn't actually thought he would be interrupting anything when he decided to startle the couple in their room. He had just seen Damian coming down the hall just a few minutes before. Surely, they couldn't have started ripping off clothes and getting jiggy with it that quickly? He ran into the doorframe, practically falling into the hall when he heard Elle and Dick laughing. Jason looked back as he climbed to his feet, peeking at them from between his fingers. When he saw the couple was standing beside a huge aquarium and dressed for a night out, he dropped his hand and stomped back inside, kicking the door shut behind him.
"Why the hell did you scream like that for?" he demanded to know. His annoyance and embarrassment leant a sharp note to his voice.
Elle was doubled over, holding her side, laughing. "Oh, I'm sorry," she gasped, then glanced up at the angry face he wore and immediately burst into another fit of laugher. She was waving at him; whether she wanted his forgiveness or for him to sit down or go away, he couldn't tell.
Dick had both hands on his knees as he bent over, wheezing. "Oh, God! Your face . . ."
Jason blew out a breath in annoyance and muttered dryly, "Oh, yeah. A laugh-riot, Dickface - Not." He frowned at the aquarium. Is that a lobster? Dickiebird is getting weirder every time I see him. "What the hell is that?"
"Then, you were bouncing off the doorframe with your hands over your eyes," Dick guffawed, ignoring his question.
"Hey! It wasn't that funny," Jason grumped.
"Stop! You're going to make my mascara run," Elle begged. When she was finally able to catch her breath, she walked over to him, giving him a hug and a kiss on the cheek. Jason huffed, refusing to return either.
"Don't pout," she teased. "You were the one that burst into our bedroom, remember?"
"What are you trying to say," he asked carefully, one eyebrow raised sardonically. "That I deserved it?"
"Well . . . yes," Elle told him, surprised. "You did come in here with your hand over your eyes. What were you expecting to find if not the two of us in a . . . ahem, compromising situation?"
He had been expecting to scare the shit out of them, truth be told. Dick was still laughing his ass off. Jason punched him in the arm, knocking him over. Dick fell into one of the upholstered chairs, still laughing, as he rubbed his arm.
"Hey!" Elle yelped angrily.
Jason turned his head only to have Dick's fiancée punch him in the jaw. "Ow! What the hell?"
"Don't hit him," she glared at him as she shook her hand out.
The training he knew Elle was receiving was starting to show. Her punches had improved. That hurt.
"I didn't hurt him, lambchop," he told her. "It was just a love-tap. This is how brothers say I love you. It's what we do!"
Elle narrowed her eyes. "Figure out another way to tell him you love him, then," she snapped at him.
Jason held up his hands in self-defense. "Fine, whatever. Are you two ready to go?"
"Yeah, we're ready," Dick said, regaining his feet. He was still chuckling.
The huge tank caught Jay's attention again and he walked over to it to stare at the lobster moving along the bottom.
"What's with dinner?" he asked, only to receive a shoe to the back of his head. He glared at Elle. "Would you stop!"
"That is Earl," she snapped. "He's not dinner! Keep it up, Jason, and you'll be going to the bar alone tonight."
"Earl? What the f-,"
"Earl is my Valentine's Day present to Elle," Dick interrupted him.
"What? You couldn't just take her out to dinner like everyone else?" Jason snorted.
"Jason . . ." Elle said with a warning in her tone. "Earl is our pet lobster. He's a member of this family and you will treat him accordingly."
He stood there and stared at the two of them for a moment. He looked at Dick. "She's kidding, right? Tell me she's kidding."
Dick shrugged, a sheepish smile on his face. "Nope! Elle has a thing for lobsters, apparently."
"So, do I, but I like mine with butter," Jason grunted. He didn't have to dodge the next shoe as it flew past his head, missing him by a foot, at least. "Okay! Okay! I'd better stop while you're still dressed," he joked as Elle stomped past him barefooted in order to pick up her shoes.
Elle grabbed his arm to maintain her balance as she slipped first one shoe and then the other back on her feet. Although his abuser annoyed him, he held still for her anyway, but Jason entertained himself briefly with visions of Elle falling on her ass if he moved just a little to his right.
"That's what you're wearing?" Elle asked as she noticed Jason's outfit for the first time.
He looked down at himself. "What's wrong with what I'm wearing?"
She blinked and shook her head. "Nothing," she said too quickly.
"What? Oh, no you don't! What's wrong with what I'm wearing?" Jason asked again. He looked at Dick. "Do you have a problem with what I wearing, too?"
Dick smirked. "Leave me out of this."
Jason glanced at Dickhead's outfit, a light, gray sweater with a pair of navy-blue Dockers and a matching jacket. Elle wore a black, pencil skirt with a off-the-shoulder, long-sleeved sweater in gray and high heels. He scowled.
"Are you two supposed to be matchy-matchy or something?" he asked, in an accusatory tone. "I hope you weren't expecting me to do the same."
Dick snorted and Elle laughed.
"Not hardly, but your t-shirt has a hole in it," she told him. "Is that an oil-stain on your jeans?" She looked at him incredulously. "And you wanted me to pretend to be your date? Surely, you wouldn't have showed up wearing the same stuff you wore while working on your bike? Did you at least shower first?"
Jason lifted his t-shirt up and sniffed. "Smells alright," he shrugged.
Elle rolled her eyes and headed toward the closet, disappearing inside. Jason looked back at his brother, beginning to feel a little nervous.
"What's she doing?"
Dick sat back down. "She's going to dress you appropriately, I imagine."
Jason scowled. "Oh no. I like these jeans . . . and my holey t-shirt!" he yelled the last part so that Elle could hear him.
"You look like a homeless bum," Elle's voice drifted out from the closet. "I checked out the place we're going to and there is a dress code."
"Seriously?" Jay gaped. "It's a freaking bar?"
"It's a karaoke bar," she corrected, reappearing with a pair of Dick's jeans and a couple of long-sleeved pullovers. She laid them on the bed. "It isn't the Ritz," she promised him. "You can still wear jeans but they need to be clean at the very least."
"I don't know if you noticed or not," Jason grumbled, "but Dickiebird and I aren't the same size."
She smiled soothingly. "I know," she crooned at him. "These are a little loose on him. They might be a little snug on you but they should still work." She winked at him. "The ladies certainly won't complain if they are a bit tight."
Jason glanced back at Dick. "Are you going to just sit there?"
"You do look a little shabby," he admitted. "That's fine for hanging out at a biker's bar but if Elle says you'll look out of place at a karaoke bar, then you might want to change."
"Unless you want to stand out," Elle told him. She held out the jeans and a thermal pullover.
Jason took the shirt and tossed it back on the bed. "It's gray. I'm not going to go in there looking like the two of you."
Elle laughed. "Fine, Dick has a bunch of these. How about red," she offered, "like the Red Hood."
Jason took the black jeans and headed into the bathroom. "Red's good," he muttered. "I can't believe I'm going to do this." He slammed the door shut behind him.
When he reappeared, Elle was standing there with a deep-red, thermal pullover. Jason eyed it but it looked like something he might have picked out for himself. He tugged his black t-shirt from over his head and threw it back into the bathroom where he had left his dirty jeans on the floor.
Elle whistled at him appreciatively as he pulled the shirt over his head. He glared at her but she only laughed at him again.
"The ladies are going to love you tonight," she assured him changing her shoes to knee-high, black, low-heeled boots. "These will be better if that storm hits Gotham while we're still out." Elle explained. She smirked when Jason flinched as she picked up her heels to put them away. "Don't worry, Jason. You look hot."
He grunted as he tucked the shirt into his jeans. Dick's clothes were snug but he wasn't going to strangle in them. He leaned back into the bathroom to snag his shoulder holsters from the counter and began putting them back on.
"What are you doing?" Elle asked. "Why are you wearing your guns?"
He looked up, puzzled. "I always wear my guns. Look, Dick was right when he said these guys don't play nice. I don't care how fancy this place is, I'm not going in there unarmed."
She blinked. "It's not fancy, just not crappy," she murmured.
Dick moved over and rubbed his hands over her shoulders. "You don't have to go, if you don't want to. We can go without you or find another way to get Jason's information."
Jason scowled at him. "I'm not going in there wearing these jeans with another guy. The plan was for Elle to distract them on stage while I planted the bug on one of them so I could listen in on their conversation with this new contact."
"That's still going to happen," Elle snapped. "I'm not backing out."
"Don't you have an ankle holster?" Dick asked him, sighing.
"Of course. Never go anywhere without it." Jay tugged up one of his pantlegs. It was tight but they both saw the snub-nosed pistol hidden beneath the top of his boot. "I won't be able to reach it easily in these jeans if I end up needing it," he complained, squatting to stretch the denim out.
"Are you expecting to need them?" Dick frowned. "If you think this thing will deteriorate into a firefight, Elle's staying here."
"No, I'm not," she blurted but the brothers were ignoring her now.
"If things go as planned, and your chick can keep their attention, then we should be in and out without a problem."
"Could you handle any problems that might come up without an arsenal at your disposal?" Dick asked, smirking. "You do remember how to use your fists, don't you?"
Jay snorted. "I could whip your ass with both hands tied behind my back."
Dick grabbed his arm. "Just as long as you remember your promise," he warned him.
"What promise?" Elle looked between them. "Am I missing something?"
"I remember," Jason snapped, pulling his arm free. "I'm not a total asshole."
"Then we understand each other," Dick said, "Let's go. Time's wasting."
Elle grabbed her own jacket and followed them out, shutting the door behind her. "What promise?"
Dick helped her into her coat as they moved towards the stairs, then threw an arm over her shoulders. "If anything goes wrong tonight, you will find the nearest exit and head for the car. I'll catch up with you a little while later."
"Do you expect trouble tonight?" For the first time, she felt a little flutter of unease.
"Not a bit," he said, and planted a kiss on the top of her head.
"Do you see them?" Elle asked, looking around the club as Dick took her coat for her.
The place wasn't a typical bar. It was actually pretty nice, and it was crowded with groups of friends and couples.
"Yes, they're here," Jason answered. He led them over to a table near the middle of the room.
"Really? Where?" she asked, glancing around again curiously.
Jason tugged out a chair and pushed her down into it, shoving her close to the table. "Quit looking around," he warned. "You might tip them off."
Dick hung her jacket on the back of the chair and set next to her on her left while Jason took a seat across from her, the easier to keep an eye on what was going on in the booth near the back of the room.
"I can't help it," Elle exclaimed. "It's my first sting operation."
Both men started laughing, drawing a blush from her as she frowned at them.
"What?"
Dick leaned close. "It's not exactly a 'sting' operation. We're just here to gather a little information."
She made a face. "Like I know what to call it. Whatever it is, it's my first time."
"Is it your first time in a karaoke bar?" the waitress asked, overhearing them. She was not much taller than Elle herself, with long, golden blonde hair that was swept up in a bun and wearing a light-blue shirt that matched her eyes.
Elle glanced down at her shoes and winced at the three-inch stiletto heels. "Ouch. Do you really work all night in those?"
The blonde looked down at her shoes and shrugged. "I'm used to it. And, believe it or not, they come in handy on some nights," she told them confidentially. "I'm Nikki, by the way. I'm your waitress for the night. If this is your first time, let me give you the run-down on how things work here," she said, pulling a book from the center of the table and setting it down in front of Elle. "This is a list of all our songs. You look through them and pick something out you like, then write your name and the number of the song on this paper and give it to me. I'll take it up the DJ and when it is your turn, he'll call you up."
"Oh, um, okay," Elle smiled. "Thanks, but it really isn't my first time singing at a place like this. I was talking about something else. But it is the first time for the guys, so thanks for explaining that for me."
Nikki laughed. "Oh, whoops! Well, glad to help. It's kind of part of the job. I explain to everybody. Can I get you something to drink to start out?"
"I'll just have a water with lemon," Elle told her. "I never drink if I plan to sing."
Nikki grinned. "Most people need a shot of liquid courage to get up in front of a bunch of people and perform. What about your friends?"
Dick and Jason both ordered beer. Jason watched as Nikki sashayed away.
Elle followed Jay's line of sight. "Are you going to ask her out?"
Jason looked a little startled. "Ah, no. Not my type," he mumbled.
Elle looked skeptical. "Really? You sure about that?" She watched as Nikki gave their order to the bartender. "She's kind of cute."
Jason pushed the book of songs over towards her. "Just pick your song. I'm here on business, remember?"
She and Dick shared a smirk as Elle scanned the offerings.
"Do you see anything you like?" Dick asked her as he slid an arm onto the back of her chair.
Elle smiled up at him. "I like you," she murmured seductively, leaning over to nuzzle his jaw and making him grin. He kissed her lightly at her demand.
It had been so long since the two of them had been out like this. They had had to abort their dinner out the other evening, so this was officially the first time since before the attack. Elle shivered a little as the memory washed over her unexpectedly. Dick noticed and scooted a little closer, tugging her against him.
"Cold?" he asked. "Do you need your jacket?"
"No," she assured him, although she luxuriated in Dick's body heat as she leaned against him. "This is fine."
"When do you need her to go up?" Dick asked Jason.
"Not yet. This is only one half of the party, apparently. The men that Willie Shay is supposed to be meeting aren't here yet," he told them.
"Do you know who it is you're looking for or you'll find out when they show up?" Dick asked.
"I don't know these guys who are supposed to meet up here. Rumor has it, they're hooked up with some new guy from Turkey."
"Turkey?" Elle tilted her head.
"Here you go," Nikki announced suddenly, passing out the drinks between them. "I don't know if the kitchen has turkey but I'm pretty sure it has chicken and hamburgers. Would you like me to ask?"
"Um, sure," Jason smiled at their server. "I'll take a turkey club if you got it. You guys want something?"
"You buying?" Dick grinned.
"Cheapskate! You're the one with the rich fiancée" Jason tossed a wadded up napkin at his older brother.
"Good point," Elle interrupted. "I'll pick up the tab for everything tonight," she told their waitress. "I'm not hungry yet. Dick? You want something?"
Dick was currently scowling at Jay. He didn't appreciate the insinuation that he was only with Elle for her money. His stomach growled. Elle and the waitress were looking at him knowingly. "Yeah, sure. Cheeseburger with everything," he muttered, sheepishly.
Elle kissed him, and he promptly forgot his annoyance.
"Mm, what was that for?" he asked her, nuzzling her ear.
"For letting me pick up the tab tonight," she told him. "I know you like to pay our way but the money will only sit there accruing interest if I don't spend a little. Dinner seems like such a small thing."
Dick sighed but didn't grumble about it. Elle was truly happy tonight and he didn't want to screw it up with an argument he couldn't win anyway. She was still insisting that her money was his money but Dick had a hard time seeing it that way. He had money, actually. The small life insurance policy out on his parents' lives Bruce had turned over to Lucius early on, after Dick had first moved into the manor. Over the course of years, that amount had grown exponentially and Dick, if not the multimillionaire his fiancée was, was extremely well off. He just preferred not to touch it and to live off what he could earn as a police officer.
"Whatever makes you happy," he told her.
When Elle kissed him again, Jason made gagging noises. "I see why the little twerp was complaining. I should have come alone and let you two get a room for the night or something."
Elle laughed and turned to give Dick a more passionate kiss just to annoy him. It worked. Jason picked up his beer and turned around to look at some of the other people in the bar. Some guy was up there crooning some kind of love song to one of the women sitting at a table near them.
They were a big group and had pulled two tables together in order to accommodate their size. Five women and another man sat together. It didn't take a genius to guess which chick he was serenading either. The woman in question was twenty-something with short, blonde hair, lighter than that of their waitress. When he was finished, he announced that it was his girlfriend's birthday and invited everyone in the bar to sing Happy Birthday to her. The young woman blushed at the attention as her table burst into song. Elle elbowed Dick into singing as well while Jason finished his beer and waved to Nikki for another.
They watched as a couple of the women ran up to the stage next, giggling. It was obvious that they had several shots of liquid courage already. Dick wasn't sure if the alcohol was to blame for how bad they were or if they had been terrible to begin with but he grinned at the good time they were having. Elle laughed as she watched. For a Siren whose life revolved around music, she had no trouble enjoying even poorly-rendered songs as long as everyone was having a good time.
"Jason," Elle leaned over and spoke loudly enough to be heard over the caterwauling on stage. "You have to go up and sing!"
"What?" Jason sent her a startled look. "No! That's what I brought you here for. I have to keep a lookout . . ." but Elle was already waving at the waitress.
Dick laughed at Jay's panic. "It's fine. I'll watch over your friends for you while you sing."
"Nobody wants to hear me sing. Remind your fiancée that this isn't really a night out on the town. We're here for another reason," Jason grumbled.
Elle turned around. "I remember just fine, thank you, but there's no reason we can't mix business with pleasure. It will make us look more 'legit'."
"She has a point," Dick laughed at Jay's expression.
"Fine! But you're going to get up there, too," Jason snapped. "I'm not doing this alone."
Elle's eyes widened as she grinned. "Ooh, a duet?"
"No!" Dick and Jason yelped together. Dick shook his head. "No duet for me unless it's with you."
"Hey! If I have to get up there by myself, then you should . . ."
"Hey! Get off the stage! Boo!" A voice interrupted Jason. Several people turned around to frown at him. The drunk was unimpressed. "You suck! Who's next . . ." he yelled at the two women.
"What a jerk!" Elle complained.
The drunk threw a handful of lemon slices at the stage but he was either too far away or his aim sucked. A few of the slices hit the back of a woman's head sitting nearby with her husband. The man stood up angrily.
Jason caught Dick's eye. "We can't afford a bar fight before the rest of our guys show up."
Dick leapt up, intercepting the husband in an effort to calm him down. "Take it easy, buddy," he said. "That asshole isn't worth getting kicked out of here. He's drunk and no one is hurt."
"Not yet, anyway," the man growled, attempting to go around him but Dick held the guy back by his shoulders.
At the bar, Jason leaned over the counter and ordered a beer. He looked at the drunk. "Keep it down, numbnuts," he told him. "People are here to have a good time."
"My ears ain't having a good time," the drunk complained. He picked up a handful of peanuts to throw next but Jason caught his wrist.
"You don't want to go starting a fight," he warned.
The bartender handed Jason his beer. "I'll call the bouncer," he offered.
"You do that," Jay told him.
Then, grabbing his beer in one hand, Jason turned around swinging his elbow. It connected with the drunk's temple hard enough to stagger him. Jay grabbed him with his free hand to keep him from landing on the floor and helped him back onto his stool.
"Oh, man! Hey, I'm sorry about that. You okay?" Jason asked the dazed man. When he blinked at him confused, Jay set the beer down in front of him. "Here," he said. "You take this as an apology. I'm just a klutz this evening. Here," he shoved the beer into the guy's hand. "Drink this. You'll feel better in a few."
The drunk looked down into the beer and back up at Jason, blinking dazedly.
"It's free," Jay assured him. "Just sit there and take it easy."
The guy stared after Jason as he walked away before slipping off of the stool and onto the floor just as the bouncer arrived to catch him.
"Buddy, I think it's time for you to go home," the bouncer told him as he hauled the semi-conscious guy to his feet.
Jason sat down at the table and sighed. "I don't know about you two but I feel better," he said as he picked up his own beer and drank deep.
Elle watched the drunk being dragged out of the bar and then turned back. The women's song was just finishing. They hadn't even noticed the incident as they tripped their way back to their table, giggling.
"That was some smooth choreography," she noted. "Who decides who handles who?"
Dick shrugged. "My guy," he indicated the husband who had returned to his seat, "was stone-cold sober and pissed. Jason would have only made that situation worse."
Jay sat down his beer. "Trust me. I know how to deal with drunks."
Elle looked at the doorway through which the drunk had disappeared. "You sure do."
Another woman from the table made her way to the stage to people's chanting, "Leah! Leah! Leah!" Elle nudged Dick and nodded to Jason whose beer had frozen halfway to his mouth. He was staring at the newcomer to the stage with stunned eyes.
Elle whispered, "I think we know his type now."
Leah was a stunning mulatto with creamy, caramel-colored skin. Her medium-brown hair was long with loose, corkscrew curls and streaked liberally with blonde but it was her light green eyes that took your breath away. She was wearing a blue, flannel shirt over a black turtleneck and black jeans. Comfortable, casual clothes that she made somehow into a fashion statement.
"Wow," Dick murmured. "Jay looks like someone just beamed him in the head with a brick."
Elle leaned back against Dick's chest as she prepared to enjoy the show but she was watching her future brother-in-law as much as she did Leah's performance. Unlike her friends, Leah's sultry voice was quite lovely.
I'm not surprised
Not everything lasts
I've broken my heart so many times,
I stopped keepin' track.
Talk myself in
I talk myself out
I get all worked up
Then I let myself down.
I tried so very hard not to lose it
I came up with a million excuses
I thought, I thought of every possibility
And I know someday that it'll all turn out
You'll make me work so we can work to work it out
And I promise you, kid, that I'll give so much more than I get
I just haven't met you yet
Mmm mmm mmm mmm mmm
I might have to wait
I'll never give up
I guess it's half timing
And the other half's luck
Wherever you are
Whenever it's right
You come out of nowhere and into my life
And I know that we can be so amazing
And baby, your love is gonna change me
And now I can see every possibility
Mmm
But somehow I know that will all turn out
And you'll make me work so we can work to work it out
And I promise you, kid, I'll give so much more than I get
I just haven't met you yet
They say all's fair
In love and war
But I won't need to fight it
We'll get it right
And we'll be united
And I know that we can be so amazing
And being in your life is gonna change me
And now I can see every single possibility
Mmm
And someday I know it'll all turn out
And I'll work, to work it out
Promise you, kid, I'll give more than I get
Than I get, than I get, than I get
Oh you know it will all turn out
And you'll make me work, so we can work, to work it out
And I promise you, kid, to give so much more than I get
Yeah I just haven't met you yet
I just haven't met you yet
Oh promise you, kid
To give so much more than I get
I said love, love, love, love, love, love, love
I just haven't met you yet
Love, love, love, love, love, love
I just haven't met you yet
When Leah finished singing, Jason sat up straight, slamming his beer down on the table with a thud as he clapped loudly. As Elle applauded, Dick waved over the waitress with a grin. Nikki leaned down to hear over the noise.
"Send another of whatever she's drinking to her table," Dick told her, indicating Leah who was bowing with a flourish. "Tell her it's from him," he said, pointing to his brother.
Nikki smiled, happy to be in on the prank. "Do I tell her a name?"
"Jason," Elle told her, handing the waitress a napkin with the name and phone number hastily scribbled on it. "Say, he's an admirer."
Nikki straightened. "Will do!"
"She was really good, Jason," Elle caught Jay's attention. "You know, you should get up there and sing, too."
Jason scowled at her. "Why do you keep wanting me to sing?"
"Because it would be good for our cover," she told him. "And you sing wonderfully."
Jason looked at the two of them suspiciously. "Are you sure you two don't just want to make fun of me," he accused.
Elle frowned. "I would never make fun of your singing," she exclaimed, offended.
He held up his hands in surrender. "Fine! Whatever!"
"You know," Dick grinned. "You should ask her out."
"Who's that?" Jason asked, as he watched Leah walk back to the table with her group.
Elle laughed. "It's no wonder you're still single."
Jason dragged his gaze away. "I'm not here to score," he told them.
"Maybe not," she said, "but I think you totally could."
Jay frowned, glancing behind them at the other woman, a little surprised. "You think?" Then he waved his hands in front of his face. "No! No! Tonight is all business."
Elle slouched in her seat and picked up her water. "I don't see why it can't be both," she mumbled, pouting.
"Is she always like this?" he asked Dick, annoyed.
"Pretty much," Dick smiled and pressed his lips to the top of her head. "Perfect."
Elle rewarded him with a smile as she glanced around the crowded room.
"Hey!" Jason warned. "I told you, no looking around."
"I want to see if I know anyone," Elle explained.
"This is Gotham, not Bludhaven," Jason complained.
Elle smirked. "Like I've never gone out in Gotham before . . ."
Dick looked at her. "You've gone out in Gotham? Without me?"
"I had a life before you, you know," she told him. She shrugged one shoulder. "Sort of."
Dick blinked at what was for him a totally foreign concept. "Yeah, but it wasn't supposed to be any good . . . I mean, you know, before you met me."
Elle laughed at him only to break off abruptly and spin around in her seat. "Shoot!" she said, slouching in her chair. "Did he see me?"
Dick and Jason paused to glance around.
"Did who see you?" Dick asked her.
"Daniel," she whispered, ducking her head.
"That son of a bitch is here?" Dick started to stand up but Elle grabbed his arm and pulled him back down.
"No bar fights," she reminded him. "And it's okay. I kind of wondered if we would run into him. He's originally from Gotham City, after all."
"Who's Daniel?" Jason asked.
"An asshole who doesn't understand the word 'no'," Dick growled.
"You mean, this guy right here?"
Dick and Elle's heads swivel just as a man walked up to their table.
"Elle? Is that you?" Daniel asked, leaning over to get a good look at her.
"Oh, hi, Daniel." Elle's smile was less than enthusiastic. "How's the eye?"
Daniel blinked at the reminder but went on as if she hadn't said anything. "I didn't know you were in Gotham City."
"Surprise!" she said dryly. "I'm in Gotham City. So, how's the new album doing?"
Daniel pulled up a chair and sat down with them. "Oh, pretty good, actually. Could be doing a lot better if you hadn't ditched me before it was finished."
Dick glared and opened his mouth but said nothing as Elle pinched his side covertly.
"Are you next?" she asked politely. "You should get up there before the DJ gets annoyed."
Daniel glanced over at the DJ and waved. "Oh, Adam and I go way back. He'll wait for me," he assured them. "Especially if I can get you to join me in a song."
Dick started to stand and Elle jerked him back down by his belt.
"I don't think so," she muttered with a slight frown. "You should know by now how I feel about duets."
Instead of looking put out, Daniel laughed and waved the comment away. "Yeah, sure. How could I forget? That pic you took of me on your phone never hit the internet, though, I noticed."
Elle pursed her lips. "I still have it."
Daniel looked interested. "Do you? Do you look at it before you sleep at night?"
Dick growled.
"It'll only take a minute to post," Elle reminded him.
"I'm going! I'm going," Daniel smirked, holding his hands up. "But if you change your mind . . ." He stepped away and hurried up on the stage before Dick could lunge over the table at him. Daniel's entrance was met with raucous applause. He was obviously a crowd favorite here.
"You keep a picture of him on your phone?" Dick swung around to glare at her.
"Don't get your knickers in a wad," Elle replied. She pulled out her phone and brought up the picture in question, holding it up for him to see.
Dick blinked. "What the hell happened to him?"
"I did," she answered proudly. "Your lessons and my mace."
Jason reached across the table and yanked the phone out of her hand. He burst out laughing. "You did that?" he asked. "I thought you were worried about her. She looks plenty able to take care of herself to me."
Dick slumped back in his chair. "And yet, he didn't look especially put out tonight, did he? I bet if you'd have let me had a few minutes with him, he wouldn't have acted quite so chummy now."
Hearing Elle's name over the speaker system brought the trio up short. They glanced up at the stage to find Daniel holding a hand out in Elle's direction.
"Obviously, my friend is feeling a little bit shy tonight," Daniel was saying. "Give her a round of applause and let's see if we can get her up here. Trust me, you haven't heard anything until you've heard from the fabulous Elle Hamilton!"
Elle glared. "What are you doing?" she mouthed at him angrily. Every head in the place was focused on them now as a curious and polite round of applause went up to encourage her.
"Damn it," Jason griped. "He's drawing too much attention."
"Fine," Elle snapped, standing up. She shrugged off Dick's hand. "Go do your thing now, Jason. It will cause too much trouble if I ignore him." She glanced down at Dick's furious face. "Calm down. It's just a song. I'll be back in a few minutes."
"You don't have to do this," Dick told her.
"Yes, she does," Jason hissed at him. "I'll go do 'my thing' once they start performing, so don't screw this up by acting the jealous boyfriend. No bar fights, remember?"
"This is your fault," Dick accused as he threw himself back into his chair.
"My fault?" Jason laughed. "How was I supposed to know she had a not-so-secret admirer? Of all the karaoke joints in this city and this guy happens to show up here, tonight," he muttered, palming the listening device in his pocket.
Elle walked up on stage and snatched the second mike. Holding it down at her side so the sound system wouldn't pick up her angry whisper, she hissed at him.
"What the hell do you think you're doing? I'm here with my fiancé and his brother!"
"Really? They don't look that much alike," Daniel squinted in that direction.
"Not the point," Elle snarled quietly. "Tonight's Valentine's Day and you are ruining it."
"I know what day it is," Daniel smiled. "I told you I'd get that duet with you. Maybe when you see how people react to us together, you'll dump that dick and come back to me."
"I was never with you," she snapped.
"Hate the break up the lover's quarrel," Adam quipped from the side of the stage, "but what are you two singing?"
"Number sixty-four," Daniel told him.
Adam eyed her curiously. "Does she know it?"
Not that it mattered. It was a karaoke bar. The words would be up on the screen for her but Adam had been DJ-ing at the club for years and knew Daniel only liked to be seen in a good light. Singing with some chick who didn't know the music would only embarrass the man.
"Doesn't matter," Daniel assured him. "She makes everything sound great."
The music came on and, as he knew would happen, Elle's professionalism kicked in. She was still angry at him but she would never disappoint an audience. It wasn't in her DNA. He grinned as she recognized the song. As he figured . . . He had yet to find a song she didn't know. Whatever it was, she would automatically know exactly how to harmonize, when to come in and when to not, how to make him sound amazing.
It was why he wanted her to be his partner. Hell, he'd make her his wife in a heartbeat. Eventually, Elle would hit the circuit, instead of these dives she preferred, and go platinum at lightspeed. Daniel wanted to be a part of that and, as her husband, he stood to make a freaking fortune and would ride in on her coattails if he had to.
"Seriously?" she stared at him.
Daniel smiled at her and began to sing to her.
Tell me when will you be mine
Tell me quando, quando, quando
We can share a love divine
Please, don't make me wait again
When will you say yes to me (Elle repeated him, singing. When will you say yes to me.)
Tell me quando, quando, quando (Tell me quando, quando, quando)
You mean happiness to me (You mean happiness to me)
Oh, my love, tell me when (together)
Every moment's a day (Every moment's a day)
Every day seems a lifetime (Seems . . . Every day seems like a lifetime)
Let me show you the way (together) (Let me show you the way)
To a joy beyond compare (together)
I can't wait a moment more
Tell me quando, quando, quando (Daniel repeated her, singing. Tell me quando, quando, quando)
Say it's me that you adore
And then, darling, tell me when (together)
Every moment's a day (together. Every moment's a day)
Every day seems a lifetime (together.)
Let me show you the way (together. Let me show you the way)
To a joy beyond compare (together. Humming . . . together)
I can't wait a moment more (I can't wait a moment more)
Tell me quando, quando, quando (together)
Say it's me that you adore (together)
And then, darling, tell me when (together)
Oh, my darling, tell me when (together)
And then, darling, tell me when (together)
Oh, my darling, tell me when (together. Humming . . . together)
There followed a slight pause and then the applause started, several people gaining their feet in their enthusiasm. It was always the same with Elle beside him. Daniel could perform this song with any other woman and the applause would have been good but for some reason he couldn't quite fathom, when Elle sang with him, the crowd became more animated, more appreciative, even more enthusiastic.
Her voice was different somehow. There was an element to it that took it from merely good or great even . . . to fantastic! And she had the ability to bring every other singer right along with her for the ride. Whoever it was that she chose to sing with, Elle's voice seemed to bring the best out of them and they sounded better than they had ever before in their entire lives. If only he could capture that secret ingredient for himself . . . But the best he could ever hope for was to make her a part of his act.
Daniel had hoped, by proposing, he might have gotten her beside him permanently. It was a prop, sure. He was good, great even, but with Elle he could be a legend. He would have preferred to make it on his own but if the only way he could reach that pinnacle was as a duo, Daniel would take it.
He waved, the thrill was still there despite the small venue of the club. He imagined it many times ever since he discovered Elle's talent, more so in the last few months. Daniel's gaze landed on the man at her table. Dick . . . He shook his head at the name. He had looked up the guy she was dating. A cop in Bludhaven! Not even a professional singer . . .
Now, what was she calling him? Her fiancé? No, that was unacceptable.
Daniel didn't know what he could do but he couldn't take this sitting down. Elle was meant to be a superstar and he was meant to be standing on that mountaintop with her.
REACTIONS?
This should be interesting . . . Don't forget to leave review and tell me what you think! ;D
For those of you who've asked, and so far only two seemed concerned, the word "mulatto" is not intended for use as derogatory term. I use it only for descriptive purposes, as the physical characterization of Leah is based off the appearance of a friend and reader whose beauty would take a paragraph to paint a picture for many.
I suppose in certain places "mulatto" might still be considered insulting, but for me, it simply brings to mind a truly beautiful combination of colors that takes one breath away and causes men and women alike to do a double-take that is full of both admiration and sparks of jealousy. I apologize to any who might be offended. It was not my intention. The idea of racism is one that has always confused me. The idea of judging a person on the top layer of the epidermis which is only on average 1mm thick rather than by one's character, his/her honesty or actions is utterly ridiculous.