A/N: For those who read the fiction before, there will be new things added to this story as I go along.


Vincent wiped the sweat of his brow as he looked around the crowded docks. It was another long day at the port. Managers tested his patience time and again. His boss always took advantage of him and his strength. They knew he would never talk back and he never did. A workday was always the same for him. He worked the second he arrived at the port and worked until the end of his shift. He usually came home worn out and with muscles aching that even his super human powers couldn't prevent.

From sunrise to sunset he saw the same people but still he felt sad and lonely. The work only kept him busy but as soon as he left the port he had no l friends and no one to come home to. No matter how hard he tried to belong he knew he could never be one of them. After all he wasn't even suppose to be alive but he was and last night was the first time he felt normal. How someone like Catherine can look at him the way she did still surprised him but it was definitely a night he could never forget.

"Vince," someone yelled and broke his thoughts. "Five on the dot. Let's get the hell out of here."

"Thanks, Chase," Vincent answered as he jumped off the stacks of wooden crates.

Vincent stared at the man before him and wondered how someone small could exude so much power. Everyone respected him and did as they were told without complaints but when it came to the other managers, none of them were well-liked by their employees and always scoffed after being told what to do. Chase was in his forties and of average height with tan skin and blue eyes you couldn't miss. He had been working at the port since he was teenager with his father and could never imagine living his life like his father did, who married young and had three children before the age of thirty. He had his fair share of ladies when he was young but no one could tame the hardworking playboy as he was known amongst his friends. He eventually worked up the ranks but chose to remain to work at the docks instead of the corporate office where his father retired before passing away less than a year ago. Since then he found himself working more to keep himself busy. "They sure do work you hard, man. You gotta say no sometimes."

Vincent shrugged his shoulders. "It's no big deal. I don't mind it."

"That's why they take advantage of you. Listen, me and some of the guys are going to a bar afterwards. Blow off some steam. Why don't you join us?"

"Nah," Vincent shook his head. As much as he wanted to, he knew that there was no telling what he would reveal under the influence of alcohol. He already revealed to much last night to a beautiful young lady, who he couldn't help but think about. He smiled for a second and quickly tried to dismiss it but was too late as Chase caught it.

Chase smirked back. "Ah, I get it. You got someone special waiting for you. If ever your old lady lets you play let me know."

Vincent smiled at the thought of coming home and having Catherine wait for him at his place. He would greet her with a kiss on the lips as soon as he walked in. "It's not like that," he answered but he wished it was. It would make everything worthwhile and he would go as far as saying he would be the happiest man on Earth but he couldn't think that way. It just wasn't written in his star to be with someone as beautiful as Catherine. "I have to go. See you guys tomorrow."

"Later, Vince. If you change your mind we'll be at Madame Aphrodite's."

"That's a strip club."

"Not all of us are lucky as you and have a lady waiting for us at home," Chase said sadly. Now that he was older he wanted the family he should have had when he was younger. He no longer embraced the bachelor life but envied his friends and their family. "And speaking of, do you have this month's payment for that shit hole?"

"Yea, sorry. I meant to give it to you yesterday but got all turned around with work and everything," Vincent answered as he pulled out a wad of bills from his jeans pocket. "Here, one thousand. Thanks again, Chase."

"Are you crazy?!" Chase stated as he grabbed the money. "Why the hell you thanking me for? You're the one helping me get rid of it. A few more payments and that rundown building is all yours. Feel free to do whatever you want to that eye sore. It's been nothing but problems for me. Not even sure why Dad kept it and sure as hell never wanted to inherit it. Let me know if you ever need help fixing it up."

"Thanks, but I've got it."

"Alright. Let's get the hell out of here before they give us some last minute work."

BATB

Later on that night Vincent found himself in front of the strip club. After eating dinner by himself at some fast food restaurant he wandered around the city instead of heading back to his place. He was in no rush to get home where no one was waiting for him and he didn't feel like being alone. The thought of a woman entertaining him made the loneliness easier to bear.

"You coming in, handsome?" the woman with long red hair and blue eyes greeted him.

Vincent thought about it for a second before changing his mind. She was pretty but she was no Catherine. He had to take her off his mind or he was going to drive himself crazy. It's not like there was anything between them. It was just the alcohol that made him see and feel things that didn't exist. Catherine was probably that way with other customers who served in the military. Surely he wasn't the only one she ever smiled at. "No," he answered and left in a hurry.

One more day and he would be able to visit his parents property, he thought to himself and tried to think about something else other than Catherine. For a couple of days he would be able to find some unspecified joy but it brought hope and contentment in his life. It would be short term but it was always worth the shitty workweek he always went through. He knew it wasn't much but after everything he'd been through in the past couple of years he had to take whatever he could get with his limited resources.

Vincent walked around aimlessly, through the city and into the outskirts of town. Without thought or intention he found himself at the same bar as last night. He stared at the neon lights flashing Salty Dawg Saloon and pondered if he should go in or not. The man from last night had no doubts or hesitation as he closed his eyes and thought about Catherine's beautiful face and gorgeous smile. But the man who lived his life looking over his shoulders the last few months knew that he couldn't go back inside and endanger Catherine's life for another chance to talk to her and see her smile at him as if he was the only man in the room.

"Are you coming in or not?"

Vincent opened his eyes and turned towards the door. It was the same security guard as last night. "Hey Tony," he greeted.

"Vincent, right? Welcome back."

Vincent knew he couldn't turn back now. He only hoped that Catherine will be working tonight. She was the only one who could make his night better and as much as he denied it he really wanted to see her again. Without another thought he walked towards the entrance and walked in. He looked around and scowled after noticing the same group of guys from last night sitting at a table close to the bar area.

They sat close to Catherine's side of the bar as they usually did but she didn't seem to mind them. In fact, she served them without any trouble and thanked them for their generosity as they left a tip for her. So far they didn't bother her too much other than a pick up line Vincent overheard before one of them walked away but she casually ignored it as she moved on to another customer waiting for her.

Vincent fumed under his breath and shook his head. They were the last thing he needed. He clenched his fist and turned back to Tony.

"Don't worry I'm keeping my eyes on them. I've already told Catherine to signal me the moment they start up. Sit down and relax. It's my job to protect her though I don't think she would mind if you came to her rescue again."

Vincent furrowed his brows and shrugged his shoulder causing Tony to laugh. If anyone knew, it would be Tony, just how difficult it was to impress Catherine and have her smile.

"Enjoy the night."

"Thanks," Vincent nodded and walked over to the bar. While approaching, Catherine turned around and saw him. He received the biggest smile he had seen in a while and made him smile like a fool. His eyes lit up, glowing a golden color as it usually did when his emotions and adrenaline were running high. He choose the empty stool in front of her and sat down.

For a second or two she was caught off guard by his eyes changing color but quickly remembered last night and continued to smile at him. She knew then that there was something different about him but it intrigued her rather than frightening her like most people who saw what he was capable of. In fact, she was fascinated by the mystery surrounding him. From what she was able to gather with the little time they spent together last night, he was a military guy with a hero complex and drank but didn't say much. His eyes altered colors at any given moment and she was fascinated by them. Maybe he was part of an experiment, she thought. After all he was pretty bitter last night when she thanked him for his military services but those only happened in movies and not in real life. "Hey stranger," she greeted, playfully. Flirting wasn't her forte and she didn't want to be too blunt about getting his name.

"Vincent," he replied. "Hi Catherine."

"Hey Vincent," she smiled at him. "Another bad day?"

He nodded his head. "But a lot better now," he answered and smiled as he heard her heart racing. He quickly picked up on it and knew exactly which was hers. Maybe what happened last night wasn't just his imagination but it couldn't be possible.

Her cheeks changed hues and turned bright red as she blushed. "What can I get for you tonight?"

"What would you recommend?" he pointed towards the handwritten sign of draft beers.

Catherine turned her head to read the sign. She started reading it but stopped as she saw the same guy from last night walking towards the bar.

The guy staggered to the bar and bumped into Vincent, who was less than thrilled but he tried to maintain his composure. He couldn't let some drunken punk expose him.

"You look fucking hot when you smile. I can make you smile all night long if you catch my drift, sweetheart. Why don't you and I get out of here?" he slurred as he leaned against the bar for support. He was clearly drunk but it didn't stop him.

Vincent stood up and his tall frame towered over the drunken guy. "Treat the lady with some respect, asshole. Order or get out," he slammed his fist on the bar causing glasses and bottles of beer to rattle.

Catherine signaled to Tony, who was standing by the door. She turned back to her customers and placed her right hand over Vincent's fist. "It's okay," she softly stroked his hand and for a second it calmed him.

"You hear that Vincent? The bitch likes the attention we give her. She practically begs for it," the drunken guy grabbed her hand. "You just had to ask, sweetie."

"Get your hands off me," Catherine yelled.

"You heard her," Vincent said angrily as he pried the guy's hand from hers. His vision sharpened as his eyes burned furiously. His veins bulged out of his skin and turned blue as a rush of adrenaline pulsed through his body. There was no way he was going to let anyone hurt her. They would have to go through him and he'd be damned if he ever let that happen.

Tony finally arrived and grabbed the drunk guy away from the bar. Tony hurled him towards the exit and turned to his group of friends. "Get out. Next time I see anyone of you touch the girls I'm pressing charges for assault," Tony hurried the rest of the group and walked them out as the crowd applauded him.

Vincent turned to her after watching the guys being escorted out of the bar. "Are you okay?" his was voice was more softer and full of worry.

Catherine nodded her head as she looked him with the same concern he'd shown her. For a moment they gazed at each other as if they were the only people in the room.

"Are you two, okay?" Tony asked when came back but quickly regretted interrupting the moment between then.

"I'm okay, Tony," Catherine answered.

Vincent stared at his reflection in her eyes. His cheeks had roughened and his scar throbbed. He raised his shaky hand, which was covered in blue veins, to his baseball cap and lowered it to hide his face. "I'm alright."

"I'll make sure they don't bother you again. I told them not to come back. I'll make sure Mike and Johnny knows as well. Thanks again, Vincent. If you ever need a job, I've got an opening. Enjoy the rest of the night."

Vincent carefully listened to the footsteps until he was sure that Tony was back by the entrance and hoped he had enough time to calm himself. He raised his head and nervously looked up at Catherine. "I'm sorry."

It had been a while since he went through a full transformation and it never turned out well for him and his victim. Once, Vincent saved a woman as she was being attacked. The suspect he killed turned out to be a serial killer, who killed four women and the NYPD had been searching for him for months. The serial killer attacked women while they were alone in Central Park at night and held them hostage for two days as he tortured them before dumping their bodies in the Hudson River. When they found his body it was badly mangled and was only identified through a couple of fingerprints that was left in tact by his killer. After his DNA was entered in a database, he was connected to unsolved murders of four women. His undoing was trace evidence he left behind when he raped his victims multiple times and wrapped their dead bodies in plastic and closed it tightly with duct tape. He unknowingly helped preserved the bodies. But it was too late for the police. Their suspect was left for dead. Most law enforcement applauded the vigilante but some weren't too thrilled about the means of judgment and execution.

"Vincent," Catherine's soft voice drew him out of his dreadful thoughts. She pulled him back out as her warm fingers gently stroked his scar.

"Sorry," he repeated.

"It wasn't your fault."

"I meant my temper. Sometimes I let it get the best of me. I don't want to frighten you and scare you away," Vincent replied. He never meant for things to get out of hand or reveal what he truly was but for some reason he couldn't stop himself from needing to protect her. It was as if he was being drawn to her and slowly being pulled towards her.

"Never," Catherine shook her head. "I will choose you and your temper over those guys any day of the week. I know you're a good man. I can feel it."

Vincent nodded as he gazed into her eyes. Even though he should have known better and should have walked away from her, Vincent found himself more drawn to her with each passing second.

"Cat! Need some help here," another bartender yelped as the line started to get longer.

"Duty calls," she smiled, apologetically. "I'll be back."

"And I'll be here waiting," he answered with a foolish smile on his face as he heard her heart skip a beat.

Vincent watched her and another bartender work unison. They expertly filled pints of beer, made specialty cocktails without breaking a sweat and poured shots of hard liquor for those who preferred the genuine taste of alcohol. At the moment he preferred watching her and letting his imagination get the best of him. He watched closely as she bent over time and again to grab something from underneath the bar. Her movements were mesmerizing and he got caught staring at her. Catherine bit her bottom lip as she blushed profusely.

"Uh," Vincent cleared his throat. "Beer for me."

"Coming right up," Catherine answered. She grabbed a chilled glass from the refrigerator hidden behind the bar and walked over to the draft beer dispenser. She turned to him and pointed to his choices.

Vincent smiled and shrugged his shoulders. All he truly wanted was to spend a little more time with her. He knew that he should walk away but her smile kept drawing him in and the sound of her heart racing each time their eyes met made him stay longer than he should have.

"Here you go," Catherine returned with a pint of beer in hand and placed it in front of him. "On the house. For helping me again. If you keep it up all my tips will be wasted on your drinks," she teased.

Vincent laughed as he grabbed the beer and held it in his hand. He could still feel the warmth of her hand as he held the glass. "I promise not to step in next time."

"I don't want you to stop," she answered honestly.

It wasn't just her heart that started to race. He felt the heat rising to his face and as hard as he tried to keep his eyes from changing colors, he knew that it was burning gold. She held her breath as his gaze remained fixed on hers. How was it possible that she could have such an affect on him?