The Rain by Mikael Sapin

Nearly half the week passed since Viola went to Fish Mooney's club with Falcone and Victor. Viola woke in morning and instead of dressing and going downstairs to meet Victor, she grabbed the remote from her bedside table and flicked on her TV.

Her room was the same as the one next door, light wood flooring with cream walls. Her double sized bed the wall near the door with warm coloured patterned covers with a bedside table on her right-hand side. Her curtains a matching red to some of the pattern on her bed sheets. Opposite the bed was a row chester drawers full of her clothes, on top was her TV and other trinkets that she has bought in time or given to her by the men and women hired by Falcone or from the Don himself.

Viola switched the channel to the news and watched as the news reporter gave details of two people, one man and one woman, recently kidnapping children and nearly kidnapping a bus full of them. Viola stared and listened intently, wondering how she was only just hearing about this now. Gotham truly never stopped short of villains. She took small note of her bedroom door opening but didn't acknowledge the person and they watched the news cut from the kidnapping report to a breaking news of a man on bail floating in the air by a weather balloon.

After a moment or two, the person spoke, "I was wondering if you were coming downstairs."

Viola turned the TV off and put the remote beside her on the bed and turned to Victor with a small smile, "Thought I abandoned you?"

Victor let out a scoff, "Please, there's only one exit and it's down those stairs, not unless you're going to jump out the window."

Viola laughed and pushed her covers off her, Victor silently enjoying the melody of her laugh as he watched the woman stretch her last night sleep away. He had watched this woman before him grow and mature, and wondered what his life would be like if he had never gone to Don Falcone for a permanent job. He wasn't going to deny he regretted any of these three and a bit years, as he was anything but subtle. But he was also happy to admit that he enjoyed his relationship with Viola. She was a break from the violence and blood.

Again, he had no regrets when taking this route of lifestyle. It got him paid and live a comfortable life and in the end, he was very good at his job. But somewhere in these three years, he had begun to enjoy the non-violent moments with Viola. The moments at her piano, cooking in the kitchen, even their own little moment in Fish Mooney's bar. Talking and laughing, even when that bartender was being beaten in front of him, Viola was still smiling at him from a bad joke he just told her.

He watched her now, wearing only a pair of jogging bottoms and a vest top that was slightly too baggy on her, looking out of her window to the rainy view of Gotham. He had been with women in the past and they always wore lingerie or silk nightdresses that reached their thighs. But seeing Viola at this moment, he thought she was the most beautiful thing in the world.

He mentally froze and felt his smile slowly drop into a frown.

Where had that thought come from? Why did he think it? Was it true? He will admit, he hasn't been with a woman since working for Don Falcone, but did that mean anything? Was it right to feel this? Was it-

"Victor?" Viola exclaimed.

Victor blinked once, then twice and slowly looked at the worried woman in front of him, holding one of his hands when she was trying to snap him out of his trance. "Sorry." He mumbled.

"Are you okay? You were fine when I got up but when I turned around for a minute you froze like something bad had shocked you." Viola tried to describe.

"I'm sorry, was…dealing with something in my head," Victor replied and then smiled at her.

Viola smiled back, "Well if you ever need to talk, I'm here, okay?" Victor nodded, wishing he could tell her, but these thoughts he didn't want to say, didn't want to think, just wanted them to go. It wasn't that Viola wasn't beautiful, in fact, her soul and personality made him grow closer to her, but if these thoughts are what he thinks they are, she would be in more danger, he would have a weakness.

Victor must have snapped out again as he re-focused, seeing Viola walk about grabbing some clothes. Turning around and facing the door, he re-focused to her voice, "I need to go out today. I've lost my sketchbook again. This is the third time, I can't keep track." He heard her sigh, the sketchbook. It was in his room, he couldn't stop looking at the portrait of himself that she did. "Also I need to get some food, were running low and there are a lot of mouths to feed."

He said nothing as he felt a hand on his arm, gently turning him round to face Viola, her bed behind her made and her room clean as always. He took note of her high waist jeans and a light but baggy maroon coloured jumper. She even had ankle boots on to go out. "Are you sure you're okay Victor?" Viola asked in a gentle tone.

He didn't deserve her.

Where were these thoughts coming from?

He wanted them to stop.

"I'm sorry, I'm a little distracted today, Lilly and Marina will go with you, and I have other business," Victor said, taking her hand off his arm and walking out, leaving Viola confused and a little hurt. Had she done something?

"So let me get this straight, Victor, our friend-" Lilly began walking on Viola's left side down the street later that day.

Marina cut in to add, "Our boss."

Lilly nodded when munching on a pretzel, "Yeah, that too, just…went quiet and closed off on you? Then cold-shouldered you and tagged you with us. Not meaning that in a mean way Viola, we do like you." Marina nodded in agreement.

"It's okay and yeah. In the past, we would talk or laugh. Or we would spend moments in silence doing our things. If I was playing the piano he would either watch or try to learn. But today, he was distant and cold. Have I done something?"

Marina and Lilly looked at each other behind the woman's back, Viola not taking any notice as she took lead slightly when she had spoken. The two killers had sensed a change in their friend but never said anything. They could see what was happening but didn't want to get involved. But know that Victor did this with Viola today, they were wondering if they involvement will need to change.

"I'm sure nothing is wrong, he might be having a weird moment. Victor usually has those." Lilly joked.

"Yeah, and besides I highly doubt he has anything…Look out!" Marina began to speak but had looked up when they were crossing the road and saw something dropping towards them at a fast speed. Pushing Viola out of the way, all thoughts and mention of Victor went to the back of their heads when they looked back to see a dis-coloured body on the floor, it's limbs and position in a horrible state from the drop.

People began to crowd the scene, the trio of women catching on to them mentioning 'The Weather Balloon Man'. They soon begun to hear sirens. "We have to get you out of here," Lilly ordered sternly. Marina grabbed the bags that Viola was holding and begun to leave the scene.

Soon reaching the Falcone estate, the two guided Viola into the lounge. "Will you two stop? I am fine!" Viola shouted, making the two women, some of the henchmen and the Don who had just entered the room to freeze, shocked at hearing the usually calm woman shout loudly. She rarely got angry. Viola sighed and sat in an armchair, putting her head in her hands for a moment and then looking up. "I'm sorry, but I'm fine."

Falcone made a hand motion for the henchmen to leave, Lilly and Marina nodding in understanding, looking to each other for a moment as they turned to leave, leaving the Don with his ward. "What happened?"

"That man that floated away today on the news, came crashing down and nearly hit me. Marina pulled me out of the way."

"I know you're fine physically," Falcone begun as he sat near her, "But how are you?"

Viola looked at him and sighed, "Shocked a little, wasn't expecting it. I've seen dead bodies in my life not be bothered by them, but I guess when one nearly hits you it's a slight shock to the system. Can I just go upstairs for a while, please?"

Falcone nodded, "Of course my darling." He stood and went to stand in front of her to kiss her forehead gently and she took hold of his hands for a moment of comfort she was secretly wanting, "I have business with Fish, but I'll be home soon. Get some rest, my dear."

Viola nodded and after a moment of breath, she released him and watched him leave the room. Sighing to herself, Viola stood and slipped out her shoes, making her way to her piano and after grabbing a music sheet, begun to play. She was halfway through the music when she paused at the door quickly opening and seeing Victor standing there, no weapons on him, only is a shirt and trousers and no shoes on, holding a paper bag. "Marina and Lilly told me what happened." He said after a moment.

"I'm okay," Viola whispered as he stepped closer slowly, shutting the door on the world outside, leaving them two in the room. "I always feel better when I play the piano."

Victor thought back to when they were caught up in that attempted robbery. How he saved her and when they came home, she re-assured Falcone then went to play the piano instantly. It all made sense now. "I should have been there, Don Falcone gave me this job-"

"Please, Victor, it's not your fault, no one could have stopped a body dropping from the sky."

Victor couldn't believe how kind she was, even after how he left her this morning. He crouched beside the stool near her, wanting to explain what he was thinking and feeling. He felt so overwhelmed, this was something he had never had to face before. It wasn't in his field of expertise.

Instead, he said the closest thing to how he felt, "I want to teach you how to defend yourself."

Viola blinked, and after a moment smiled softly to him and nodded. "Okay, I'd like that."

Victor nodded and they said nothing, till Viola gently patted the space on the stool beside her. Victor looked at the gesturing invitation, so pure and so peaceful. So different from the life he leads. He knew that if these thoughts and feelings continued, he wouldn't push Viola away or treat her differently. He will keep her by her side and teach her everything he knows, knowing is they are apart she will still have his safety.

Accepting the invitation, Viola was about to play when he gently grasped her hands. "I've got something for you." He said.

Not saying anything, she waited as he released one of her hands to dig into the paper bag, pulling out a book and handing it to her. Viola gently took it and stroked it, "My sketchbook." She whispered.

"I found it today, while you were out." Victor explained in a half truth. Viola smiled at him and placed it on her lap to hug him. He wasn't going to tell her he had it for these past few days, not yet. He still wanted these moments. After returning the hug, the pair pulled away and Victor watched Viola begin to play again. He could wait, and see to what the future brings. But right now, he was content with the moment they were both in.

I know, I'm righting Victor either a bit OOC or a bit to sappy. Explanation:

1) It's a fanfiction, I'm going for a slow building romance, not the usual, here is man, and here is woman. Lust, Sex, then the sudden romance, I feel there is so much of that.

2) I want to try and make it a story of them, so there isn't going to be a lot of drama in world of Bruce Wayne, Jim Gordon, and Gotham etc. till more into the series time line.

3) Victor is not really a sane person, so these feelings that have been taking place and building are new to him. You will see Viola's side more as this goes on.

That's all. Continue!