Chpt.12

"Lancy, you do understand how dangerous your job is, right?" Livy questioned when she and Lancy were having lunch together. They were at Lancy's apartment, and Livy had brought over some Chinese food.

The two girls had become close friends. Livy was friends with the other women too, but since her and Lancy were the same age, they had more in common.

So, every so often Livy, dressed as Little Red, would have lunch with Lancy.

"Your job is dangerous too, Red." Lancy stated, hating it when people brought up how she shouldn't do what she did.

"Lancy…"

"I can't find any jobs. The only chance I got is to get hired at that strip club down the street, but I still have to wait three years to apply. They only take adults." She frowned, and Livy sighed, running her hands through her hair.

"I'm just worried about you, Lancy. A lot can happen in three years." Livy stated, and Lancy crossed her arms and grumbled,

"You sound like my Uncle."

"No need to compare me to him." Livy stated. "I'm just concerned. Is it possible you could go into modeling? You have a good body." She suggested, giving a hopeful smile.

"But where to start?" Lancy questioned. Livy couldn't give Lancy an answer. She didn't know anything about modeling, only that beautiful women did it, and that it apparently paid well.

"I'll look into it for you. I always keep my eyes open for potential jobs for you and others." Livy smiled, and Lancy smiled back, grateful. However, her smile turned more serious as she looked at Livy curiously.

"Red, why us? Out of all the people to help, why do you pick people like me? Why do you even associate with people like me?" Lancy questioned. She couldn't help but wonder if there was some ulterior motive. If maybe one day Little Red would turn on all the women and arrest them all.

"Because I like people like you. I believe that you're not some sort menace to society or anything, and not a lot of people seem to care. But I care, so I want to help." Livy shrugged, giving Lancy a comforting smile. "Besides, I like talking to you." she smirked.

"I thought vigilantes were supposed to be all solitary and such." Lancy stated, and Livy laughed.

"Solitary? That's no fun. I dunno if you noticed, but I'm not like most vigilantes." Livy shrugged as she took a bite out of some chicken. "You never see Batman having lunch with someone he saved, do you?"

"True." Lancy shrugged. "So, what's it like? Being a vigilante?"

"Fun." Livy smiled. "A bit stressful at times though. It's kinda hard to explain. You need a love for adrenalin and fighting and helping people no matter what. It's just plain fun for me. Might be terrifying to others."

"I don't think I could do it. I'd be too scared." Lancy stated, and Livy nodded her head.

"Like I said, it's not for everyone. It's not really a job I recommend." she smiled, but then got serious. "Hey, Lancy, can you do me a favor?"

"What do you want?"

"Can you write down the names and dates of the men you get with? I just… I just want to make sure I know who to look for in case anything happened to you." Livy informed.

"Red, I usually don't ask their names."

"Please, Lancy. If someone did something to you, I'd want a name. I don't trust the men who walk the streets at night. And no offence, but since you're new, you're not the most experienced with recognizing safe men from dangerous men." Livy explained, and Lancy sighed.

"Alright. I'll keep a journal if you really insist."

"That's all I ask." Livy grinned. "Anyway, let's get away from the topic of work. Any cute guys catching your eye? I'm not talking about clients, I'm talking about guys you've seen around." Lancy chuckled and shook her head.

"No not really." She then paused for a second. "Well… alright, I might have a small crush on someone, but I'm not really sure if I want to act on it."

"What's he look like?" Livy questioned with a bright smile. "Is he really cute? Is he tall and manly or is he like one of those hot anime characters?"

"I don't want to say much until I know more about them." Lancy informed. "But… I really think they're cute." She said quietly with a small blush on her cheeks. "Anyway, what about you? Any crushes on anyone?" Livy chuckled at the question and hummed.

"Hmmm. Love is a weird thing for me. I never really fell in love yet. I mean, aside from characters in books." Livy shrugged, and Lancy raised an eyebrow.

"What books?"

"Well…"

Lancy sighed as she sat in her room, thinking about the journal she had left with the names of the men she was with.

"I hope she reads it." she whispered. "Maxwell Boyer."

"You called, my dear?" Lancy jumped at the voice, and saw Maxwell walking into the room. "No need to be afraid. I only brought you some food." He stated as he placed a box of pizza and a bottle of water on the small table in the room.

"Well thank you. Now, either let me leave or go away." Lancy stated with a glare. Maxwell chuckled as he walked toward her, and Lancy backed away from him, her brief bravery to talk back turning into fear.

"D-don't touch me." she stuttered, and Maxwell chuckled.

"Funny hearing you say that. Wasn't it just a few nights ago that you didn't want me to stop touching you?" he smirked, but Lancy continued to glare at him, gaining back some of her bravery.

Livy would have wanted me to be brave, to put up some sort of fight. She thought.

"You always disgusted me. I never wanted you to touch me. It's only part of my job to make you feel good about yourself. Oh, and your dick is pitiful, by the way." She sneered.

Maxwell slapped the girl as hard as he could, causing a short shriek of pain from Lancy.

"Stupid slut. You're lucky you're so pretty or I'd kill you." Maxwell grunted as he grabbed Lancy by her hair, pulling her in close and kissing her.

He then pulled away and threw her on the floor.

"And like it or not, you better get used to me touching you. And other men too, but I'll talk to you about that later." He smiled a sickly smile, then left the room.

Lancy glared at the door.

"Bastard." She grumbled.

~*~*~*~*~Elsewhere~*~*~*~*~

"Maxwell Boyer has quite a criminal record, but nothing very serious." Damian stated. "Petty thefts, underage drinking, so on and so forth." he sighed. Damian honestly hoped that it would be someone he recognized so he at least had some prior information about him. But to Damian, the name meant nothing.

"Wait…" Livy's eyes scanned over the description. "Gang activity." She read and her eyes widened. She stared at his picture of the blonde man and the word 'gang.'

Maxwell Boyer... Max! I know him!