Competition breeds camaraderie... Fuck that. Competition breeds winners and losers, and our chef hates losing.
It was a particularly cold winter day in Gotham. So much snow had fallen the night before that most citizens had given up on traveling to their jobs and left many shops closed for the day. The same would be for Alexandera, as when she reached her corner of the Narrows she was greeted by the sight of her boys still shoveling snow from the front door, a small line of thugs shuffling behind them, blowing steam from their mouths into their hands in hopes of garnering some warmth. Her coffee was long cold, and her toes were freezing despite the extra layer of socks.
"Hey B-boss. D-door should-d-d be c-clear soon." Marcus looked positively frozen as he scooped snow aside with his glove covered hands. Gary was doing the same while Kyle held a pitiful lighter to the snow in an attempt to help. The chef, seeing the futility of opening a shop that wouldn't get much traffic told them to stop.
"Sorry boys, shops closed today, come by tomorrow and I'll comp you a meal." Her would be customers, though disappointed by having waited in the cold, agreed and ran to cars to warm up or trudged their way to warmer spots. Her boys stopped their vain attempt to clear snow, waiting expectantly as they rubbed their hands together.
"W-what are w-we d-doing today?" Kyle asked cupping on hand around the lighters flame.
"You guys go home. We won't get enough people today to justify opening." Alexandera sipped her cold coffee and grimaced. "Whoever's got a flask, top me off." Two flasks appeared out of thin air, filling her cup. Kyle and Gary said their farewells, heading off to somewhere called Cat Scratch, while Marcus began following the chef as she walked away from her diner, and away from the direction of her apartment.
"How're y-you not c-cold?" The chef shrugged.
"Don't know. Might be from all my time hanging out in walk-ins and freezers." Alexandera sipped her coffee and grimaced again for a different reason. "Damn, that's strong."
"Well, w-what are you g-gonna do n-now?" Marcus asked, slipping slightly on a patch of ice. The Chef shrugged, stepping to avoid some yellow snow.
"Don't know, first real day off I've had in years. Puzzles called when we were at Wayne's place. Apparently Hatter want's tea. Plus, Puzzles challenged me to video games. I'll destroy him."
"You... you're j-just gonna h-hang out with them?" Marcus looked at her with a sidelong glance. "Y-ou g-got no self-f preserv-vation."
"What?" The Chef sighed in exasperation, "I ain't got nothing else to do but hang around my apartment and drink. May as well have some fun."
"M-most people w-wouldn't c-call being ar-round R-rouges fun."
"Most people aren't in my situation."
"F-fair P-point." Marcus stopped at an intersection, halting the chef. "I'm g-gonna go v-visit my d-daughter. I'll s-see you lat-ter." His nonchalant attitude stiffened as he realized his slip up.
"You got a brat?!" The chef was shocked.
"Y-yeah, it's n-not something I t-talk about." There was a meaningful look on Marcus's face. Alexandera turned around waving her hand in the air.
"Chef ain't seen shit. Chef ain't heard shit. Chef don't know shit." Marcus chuckled.
"See you t-tomorrow, Chef."
"Later." Alexandera continued walking, making her way deeper into Gotham's dirty not so secret streets, keeping her head down like any smart person would do, and pulled a small phone hidden in her pocket.
Jonathon absolutely loathed Freeze right now. This wasn't a normal snow fall, even if the idiots that ran the news station lied to the rest of the fools in Gotham, trying to assauge their fears. Jonathon's hideout wasn't equipped with heating, and he was shivering far too much to continue his work. Groaning in frustration he bundled up as much as he could, before beginning his walk to Edwards. As annoying as he could be, Edward's hideout had heating. It wasn't busy on the streets, which made him cautious. Less people meant Jonathon wouldn't be able to hide in a crowd, or hide his footprints. Hopefully it would snow a bit more to hide them. Turning down a familiar dead end alley, Jonathon pulled the casing to an electricity reader. Behind the wires was a keypad. Pressing in the code, a narrow gap opened up in the wall. It was always a tight fit in, and the staircase was steep, but the deeper Jonathon went, the warmer it got. Once the stairs bottomed out, Jonathon made way to other locked door, punching in the next code, then the next, then the next. Poor Edward and his paranoia. When the last door opened Jonathon saw Edward not at his computer, but sitting in his lounge chair.
'Fashionably late, or unwelcomingly early,
send me with haste, if you please." Jonathon resisted his urge to roll his eyes.
"I thought I didn't need an invitation, Edward. It's why you gave me the codes, isn't it? So I wouldn't bother you." Edward rubbed a temple, gesturing to the small kitchenette, a pot off coffee already brewed.
"No, but I have company arriving shortly, and I hadn't planned for your arrival."
"If Jervis is stopping by, you'll need more tea." Jonathon stated as he pulled his mug from a cabinet.
"It's not Jer-"
"Alright Nerd, square up! I get player one." Something in Jonathon screamed at the woman's voice. A very loud something.
'It's that bitch!' Jonathon flinched at the sudden burst from his tenant, before turning to see the Chef, hair down and wild from the wind on the streets, threadbare coat that looked to held together by patches of random fabric, and grinning in what would be considered intimidating by most others. Echo was by her side, smirking at what the Chef next to her had called her employer. Query was taking up the rear, arms laden with plastic bags. Alexandera took notice of the Doctor, standing with a coffee mug loosely held in his grasp. She sipped from her rusted thermos.
"Oh. Sup other nerd. Here to witness Puzzles asskicking?" Echo snorted, unable to hide her amusement. Whoever this women was, she approved. Meanwhile, despite his ire at seeing the woman, Scarecrow cackled at the nickname. Jonathon flared his nostrils before moving to Edward's desk. There was a space heater under the desk and his feet were cold. He also couldn't do anything about the disrespect while in Edwards domain. The Rouges all had an agreement for such things.
"I'm in many types of jewelry
Like the chain of a necklace
In the tale of Rumpelstiltskin
He could spin straw into this."
It seemed this was Edward's attempt at diffusing the situation. An attempt firmly ignored by the Chef. Alexandera waltzed over to the the Prince of Puzzles before plopping heavily on a plush loveseat.
"Stop stalling, I wanna win." Edward, from his seat two feat from the women, could smell liquor.
"Are you drunk?" The Chef sipped from her cup again.
"Not yet, but even if I was, it would just give you an advantage." Edward bristled visibly.
"If that is what you think." Edward turned on his gaming system, logging in his code before tossing the controller next to the Chef. "Pick your poison, Alex." It was the Chef's turn to bristle, hating the nickname. And with the gauntlet thrown, the Chef unwittingly took the bait, picking a Mortal Combat. Four people in the room knew the truth that the Chef didn't. Edward Nigma never lost a game.
An hour later, Query added to the ever growing tally marks, grinning as the Blonde on the couch let loose another string of curses as she lost once again. A half empty bottle of liquor sat between the Chefs feet, as an open bag of rye chips toppled over, spilling on the floor. When Echo and Query were sent to pick the woman up, neither expected this. They were told to treat her with respect, and bring her quietly. They had heard of the Chef from the Narrows. She was becoming the most notorious new being among the criminal underworld. A safe haven in the feuding territories where if you didn't make trouble, no trouble would follow you. Both were too busy with Riddler's work to bother stopping by, but now they regretting not making time. There was something refreshing in seeing someone outright disrespect their Boss, even if she was loosing soundly. Her smack talk never ended, only growing more cocky with each loss. Finally the Chef slammed her controller on the couch, it bounced harmlessly on the cushion, before standing up and pointing at Edward like a petulant child.
"Fucker, ya cheated!" Alexandera pointed accusingly at Edward, who held a hand to his chest as if wounded.
"I did no such thing, I'm merely better than you." Edward said it as if was a simple truth of the universe, which he seemed to believe. Jonathon, who still sat at the computer, but with less layers on, rolled his eyes at the declaration before returning to his book. The Chef, despite her anger laughed.
"Nah, I'm just off my game." The Chef stretched, arm reaching into the air, sickening pops emitting from her elbows and back. The action drew both mens eyes to her figure. She may be a nuisance, but men are men, and she was a woman. With a grunt, Alexandera dropped her arms. "I'm missing something..."
"If you've misplaced your liquor, it's by your feet." Edward stoutly ignored the middle finger directed at him.
"Shut up, I ain't drunk yet."
"Astoundingly." It came unbidden from Jonathon's lips with his realization. He only thought he had said it in his head. He wasn't happy when a small handful of chips pelted him from across the room. Echo grabbed a broom.
"No one asked you, Jekyll." Jonathon lowered his book to glare at the Chef. The woman did her best to look innocent, gazing at the ceiling in thought. "Hey, where's your bathroom." Edward looked to Query, a silent order.
"She'll escort you to the restroom." Even if Edward had invited the Chef to his home, he didn't trust her. The chef pulled her old phone from her pocket, tossing the small object at the green clad man.
"Hook me up to your internet. I need my juju." The chef followed Query through a doorway. What Edward lacked in strength, he made up for in speed, proven when he rushed to his desk, not bothering to ask Jonathon to stand.
"What are you doing?" Jonathon asked, not really caring as Edward expertly pulled the phone open.
"Such an old model." Edward liked to keep all of his toys up to date. "I'm just adding something, a little insurance." The Riddler began to play with the internals of the phone, adding a small chip into the hardware, it's green question mark contrasting the greys of the metal.
"Let's hope she doesn't get suspicious." Edward gave an uncharateristic giggle. It was one Jonathon knew well when he was the Riddlers doctor, a lifetime ago. Edward was playing more than video games. Popping the casing back in place, the Riddler walked back to his chair, laughing.
"She didn't unlock the phone. Not that that's an issue." Jonathon tried not to sigh at the cocky tone. A minute passed by before the Chef returned.
"Forgot the unloc-... You didn't even need me to, did you?" The chef grabbed her phone, glaring at the internet reception.
"Your learning!" Edward simpered. The chef scoffed.
"Didn't look at any of my nudes, did you? I have this one with a green negli-" Both men jumped at the thought.
"What? I would never do such an uncouth-" The Riddler began to defend himself, red in the ears as the chef cackled madly.
"You think," there was an unladylike snort, "I don't have nudes!" The chef fell to the couch, still laughing. Somewhere in the confines of Jonathon's mind, the Scarecrow laughed along.
'Blondie may be annoying, but she's funny!'Jonathon rubbed the bridge of his nose, nudging his glasses askew.
'She's childish, not funny.' Scarecrow hummed, before egging his host on.
'Childish, but hot. Rockin' body. Don't think I haven't noticed your glances, Jonny-boy.' Jonathon knew that tone, and wasn't surprised when a mental image of the chef flitted through his mind, naked and screaming. Digging his nails into his thigh, he willed the image away.
'Stop, I'm trying to read.' The Scarecrow grumbled, not happy at his attempt to annoy Jonathon. All this happened much faster than most would understand. As Jonathon released his claws from his thigh, the Chef had settled down in her laughing, fiddling with her phone. Still upset at the dig, Edward grumbled out.
"What are you doing?" The Chef didn't look up from her phone.
"Need music."
"I don't think music is going to help you in your attempt to win, Alexandera." The chef shrugged.
"Maybe not, but back when I played I always had music playing. Help put me in the zone."
"When you used to play?" Edward pressed, enjoying the honesty coming from the Chef.
"I pawned my Playstation to pay rent a year ago. Computer the year before that. Haven't really bothered to pick a new one up. Been too busy." The Chef pressed play on her phone, a jaunty piano playing loudly from her phone. The lyrics caught Edward's attention.
"Bendy and the Ink Machine?"
"Yeah, Devil's Swing." The Chef switched her phone for the controller. "Last game I played before today was Five Night's at Freddie's." Edward coked his head, glancing briefly at Jonathon, who didn't seem to be paying any heed to their conversation. Look's were deceiving.
"You played that horror game?" Jonathon's eyes stopped scanning the page.
"Yeah, it was alright." The Chef choose Cassie Cage. "I liked the feel of it. Liked the music more. Pick someone, I'm ready." Edward picked Kotal Kahn.
"If you haven't had any way to play, how do you know about Bendy?" They picked Sky Temple as the stage.
"I still have Youtube." It was quiet save for the sounds emminating from the TV and phone. The first match the Chef lost once again, but she quickly set up the same fight. The song changed again, another swing tune bouncing in the air. The Chef, who had been previously loud in her taunts and accusations was silent, shifting forward in her seat as if leaning would give her an edge. Jonathon watched as this time, she managed to get Edward down to almost half his health. Much further than she had been for the previous hour. Edward seemed a bit panicked. No one had ever gotten him that close to losing. A third match began, and Jonathon set his book aside, dropping all pretense of reading. He was eager to see the end of the match. The Chef murmured along with the lyrics, leg bouncing, as she zoned out into the groove. Defensive was her only option as The Riddler went on the attack, a flurry of tapping from his fingertips, until...
"Finish Her!" The Chef tossed her controller aside.
"Fuck me!" Cassie Cage was torn asunder.
"Don't feel bad, I always win." The Riddler grinned smugly as he watched the Chef take another swig from her bottle.
"Uh huh huh huh, I always win." Alexandera mocked, sour about her loss. "We've been at this for too long, got anything else to play?" Edward gave her a flat look.
"Of course I do. How about something a little less competitive. Diablo?" The Chef perked up.
"You got Reaper of Souls?" The Riddler rolled his eyes, not deigning to answer the question. Of course he did. Alexandera leaned back in the seat rubbing her face, feeling eyes on the back of her neck. The Chef gestured to the TV.
"Come on, Jekyll, we can play with up to four people. You can be the witch doctor." The woman grinned at her own little joke. Jonathon looked offended, but didn't reject the offer. The Chef slid onto the floor, the too soft cushions of the love seat began to hurt her lower back. She grabbed her chips, patting the seat invitingly. She was being awfully... kind. It was only the liquor.
And so, for the next few hours, hidden underground, three friends played games together, as any friends would. It was a weird feeling for all in the room...
But not so bad...
Damien hesitated at Alfred's door. Damien was trained to be a shadow, to be quick, to be deadly. Social interactions were his worst attribute, though he would never admit it. Sighing through his nose, Damien straightened his back and knocked on the elder mans door. It was quiet, before he saw the light under the door turn on.
"Master Damien, is everything well?" Alfred's tone was worried, worried something terrible had happened.
"Christmas is less than a week away." It was said as a statement, but Alfred had enough experience to hear the unspoken question.
"We will go tomorrow. I have some ideas on what to get."
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A lighter chapter as I plan ahead. if ya'll have suggestions, please let me know. Enjoy.