Edward and The Scarecrow sat huddled together, surrounded by empty takeout containers and wrappers, cataloguing all audio logs recorded from the Chef's phone, filing away what seemed important and what was frivolous. Edward still felt a heat rise in his neck when he opened an alert to the video she was watching only for loud moans and squelching to cry out from his computers speakers. He had never terminated a program so quickly. Live GPS tracking was showing her traveling towards the outskirts of Metropolis. While Lex Luthor had no idea what the Chef had planned, he did. It always gave him a thrill at knowing he had the knowledge over someone, even if they didn't know it.
'Are you sure I'm not being taken hostage, Miss Fox?' Edward hated the way Luthor said her name. Dripping with suave charm.
'If you get kidnapped, it'll be your fault, not mine.' She said it so dryly. He wished he had a camera feed that showed more than the dark of the coat pockets. The Scarecrow next to Edward chuckled darkly.
"Oh it'll be because of her alright..." Edward turned his head.
"What do you mean?"
"I'm not blind or denial, Eddie. She's not his toy. She's ours."
"She's Jokers."
"Ours." The fear mongerer growled out. "But, let's see how this plays out..."
A black tinted dark SUV pulled into a large parking lot, the city skyline fall behind it. The Chef stepped out, leaving her coat behind in the backseat. Lex closed his door, pulling the baseball cap lower on his head, face obscured by the brim.
"Paint ball?"
"It's just abnormal enough to fit into your life. How many people actually do this regularly unless they're enthusiasts?" The Chef began walking to the main building, taking the lead. Lex and his driver followed after her. The sparse main building was near empty save for two men behind a counter. They perked up at the doors chime.
"Welcome! How are you doing today?"
"Two for one hour. We'll need to rent the gear." Alexandera went straight to the point.
"We have a time slot opening in about 20 minutes, and you'll have to sign waivers."
"Mine's on file, his isn't" She jabbed a thumb towards the man behind her.
"When the last time you were here? If it was more than five years ago, you'll have to update it." The chef grunted, paperwork was always a bore.
"Fine." The men behind the counter shared a look before one vanished behind an office door.
"Alright so let me get you signed in. Names?"
"Alexandera Fox."
"Alexander Luthor." The man to the computer jolted harshly. Lex had removed his glasses to give a winning grin to the man behind the counter.
"Oh, uh, hello M-mr. Luthor!" The man's eyes were wide as he stuttered. "If you'd like we could get you a discount, and some extra time an-"
"No." The Chef interrupted, causing both men to look at her, the clerk wincing at her intense glare. "Two for one hour, gear rental. We'll pay full price. You ain't gonna give a discount, but you are going to get a selfie with him, which you'll post AFTER we leave."
"I am?"
"He is?"
"As long as he doesn't give any details about my being here."
"Are you on the run, Miss Fox? Trying to drop off the grid?" Lex lightly teased, gently grasping her elbow, smirking when she didn't pull away.
"More like I ain't gonna be on the five o'clock news gossip feed as your newest conquest." She gave a crooked grin. "Dignity, dude." The other man came back with a small stack of papers which he promptly dropped. The Chef scoffed.
"Two selfies and fifty bucks to each of you, to keep your mouth shut for a day." The Chef pulled her wallet out.
Lex was peppered in vibrant pink paint and forming bruises, a wide smile on his face. The Blue haired woman next to him was grumbling heatedly under her breathe, absolutely drenched in green paint.
"I must say, that was rather fun, Miss Fox!" He felt a hand swat his upper arm.
"Yeah, yeah tons of fun. How're you such a damn good shot?"
"With my family's name, my father thought it best that I learn to defend myself."
"Of fucking course."
"Were you hoping that I would be an easy target?"
"Yeah, needed to get out some pent up aggression."
"And here I thought we were getting along." He feigned a hurt expression, as the woman next to him scoffed.
"What? Ego can't take a woman doesn't like him?"
"Said woman seemed eager to spend time with me, mixed signals and all."
"Don't worry Luthor, I had fun, you're just seeing the less starstruck woman in her natural disposition."
"The disposition of a sore loser?" He ducked as Alexandera flicked pink paint at him, not caring it landed on the expensive upholstery.
"Rude. I thought billionaires were all charm and proper manners."
"I thought I was supposed to be 'normal' for today. Perhaps you're seeing the Billionaire's natural disposition." Whatever response that the Chef had ready from her barbed tongue was cut short as a phone rang from her pocket. He watched with interest at the name on the screen and the lack of logo on the back of the phone, as if it wasn't one she bought from a store.
"Hey Kid, what do you want?" She snorted. "Still ain't a lady, Smokebomb." Silence.
"Well tell him to fuck off, pelt him with an orange and take the coat back. Better yet, do all that then call for Alfred." The Chef rolled her eyes. "The phrase is 'Snitches get stitches', but you ain't going to the cops, you're going to something way scarier." She gave a low chuckle.
"Metropolis... No, the boys are in charge... No, I don't think they'll burn down the diner... No, I wasn't kidnapped, what's with the third degree?" She side-eyed Lex. "I'm with a friend... Surprisingly, yes, I do know how to make friends... Oh fuck off, Kid... You're acting like one."
"Yes I hate people. He's not bad though." A heavy sigh. "Look Damien, I'm fine. I'mma grown ass woman, I know how to defend myself. Don't worry, I'll be back in a few days... Yeah, I'll try your new recipe... What could you do if I'm in danger?"
"Oh I'm shaking in my boots." The Chef nodded her head, "Okay, yeah, the threat of Alfred is more intimidating. Look I gotta go, I'll talk to you later." She hung up with out saying goodbye, shoving the phone back into her coat pockets, smearing green in the lining.
"Your son?" Lex chuckled at her pained expression.
"Fuck no! Damien's my... apprentice." Alexandera streaked neon green into her blue hair she pushed some loose strands back. "He's an intense kid." She offered no more of an explanation and they fell into a brief silence.
"I'm not that bad, huh?"
"There's that ego." The Chef rolled her eyes again, but had a halfcocked grin. "So, wanna get drunk tonight?"
"Whiskey or IPA?"
"You got a fancy driver, why not both?"
Edward flipped through the photos on the Metropolis Gossip column. Laughed at the foot planted on some poor idiots back as the offender lied on the dirty floor, Luthor in the background, hand on his chest, headthrown back in laughter. Glared at the drunken smile on her lips as she held a microphone in her hands, Luthor leaning heavily on her as they sang whatever song had played. Sneered at the arm curled around the Chefs shoulders There was something vibrant green streaked on her cheek and hair in the last photo, showing Luthor and Alexandera in the middle of a small dance floor. He liked the colour on her.
LUTHOR'S NEW BODYGAURD OR LADY? Billionaire and the Bad Girl!
Metropolis citizens were having a field day with the new story. The angry blue haired woman in aviator sunglasses who beat up a would be mugger, then downed a pint of beer and belted out Slayer at an open mic night with Luthor by her side the entire time. Paparazzi we're tipped off and had quickly swarmed like the gnats they are. The article waxed sadly about having lost them once they left in a black SUV, giving hypothesis as to whether they would end up at the same place. Comments ran rampant with conspiracies, was she his new fling? Was she an old friend? Fan girls raging at the perceived competition, shippers cheering it on. The Billionaire and the Bad Girl.
Jonathon was thankfully back in control, the Scarecrow had disappeared and came back with a poor victim, the screams especially harsh as he "worked". The Doctor sat on the couch, sipping coffee as he flipped through the pages of a book.
"She's going to wake up to quite the surprise." Edward broached out for a discussion.
"Yes, I'm sure her reaction would be photo worthy." Jonathon replied boredly, dog earing a page. "I'm more surprised that she has such a close relationship with a Wayne."
"Her connections are surprising." Edward closed the article, spinning the chair around and around. "We should cause some havoc, goad her to coming back early."
"Why would we do that?"
"The Scarecrow is more honest than you, Jonathon."
"She's an interesting test subject."
"Look who has an obsession now."
"Don't be childish. It suits you far to well." Edward threw a pen blindly, missing the Doctor widely. "The Joker would not take well to having his gift to her interrupted because you're jealous."
"I am not jealous!"
"Liar!" Jonathon cleared his throat, a pained wince clenching his brow. "I apologize, I'm still trying to regain full control."
"Let's just hope Jervis doesn't find out about this." Both men gave similar looks to each other. Joker catching wind they messed with his plans was troubling, but Jervis, lost in the throws of Wonderland... Well, that was simply maddening.
Damien slammed his tea cup down with a little too much force, the handle breaking off. Alfred simply replaced it as he wiped down the counter.
"Master Damien, what did that poor Spode cup ever do to you?" Damien frowned heavily.
"She is with Lex Luthor." Alfred looked at the photos mildly. "Superman has started looking into him. He's an enemy."
"Innocent until proven guilty, Master Damien. Besides, Miss Fox looks like she is quite capable at defending herself should the need arise."
"I don't like it." Damien shut the screen off standing quickly. "I will be training."
"Of course, Master Damien." Alfred smiled to himself once the boy turned the corner. He could understand why the youngest Wayne was worried for his friend.
The Chef couldn't remember the last time she woke up with a real, honest to god, hangover. Her head felt heavy, pounding with a migraine that only grew worse when the she rolled onto her side. The screen of her phone too bright as she checked the time. 11 AM. This was the latest she had slept in for a long time, running a diner meant VERY early morning. Her arms and legs were sore for both the alcohol and the bruises from her paintball excursion, her tongue heavy and saliva thick, and her stomach roaring in disdain. It almost made Alexandera take a vow of sobriety. Almost. She had resigned to spending the rest of her day in the bed, pretending she was apart of the fabric of the sheets. Just as she was about to fall back into a light sleep, her phone began ringing. It caused the headache to skyrocket as she groaned at the sound. Snatching the phone the Chef blindly pressed the screen, squinting until she finally able to get her thumb to cooperate with the touch screen.
"Fuck you." A light chuckle met her ears.
"Well, howdy to you, too." She could hear the grin in Gene's voice. "Glad to know you had fun last night."
"What?" Yawned, lowering the volume on the call. Too loud.
"You still don't keep up with social media, do you?"
"Why would I care about that shit?"
"Well you're gonna love this. Turn your TV on, channel six, they should be starting soon." Sighing greatly, Alexandera sat up, groaning at the wave of nausea that rolled up her stomach and to the throat. "Try not to barf on the bed again."
"You swore never to speak of that again." Gene barked a sharp laugh, Little Lexie squealing in delight at her fathers joy in the background. Alexandera flipped the TV on, thankful it wasn't too loud, and the weather report was just wrapping up. Huh, it was weird to see something other than Gotham persistent rain maps.
"In today's hottest gossip, we have more details about our very own Lex Luthor's exciting night out on the town! We have exclusive photos from our sources of Luthor with his Mystery Date!" Alexandera growled lowly at the grainy photos of her and Lex on the Paintball course, mostly of her being shot, though she had smirked at the one of Lex's shoulder being splattered with pink paint. That grin disappeared when the next slide showed the selfies the clerks had taken with the billionaire, Of fucking course. "While our sources could not disclose the name of the Mystery Woman, they did comment that she was quite the character, and I'd have to agree if the photos from last night are anything to go off of." More slides popped up, in better quality, of her and Lex. Her pinning some guy down on the floor, a short clip of her belting Angel of Death, slurring out the Slayer song for all her worth, the crowd headbanging and jumping around. The last photos showing her literally diving into the SUV. She thanked whatever dark force that made her life so damn crazy recently had mercy on her, as all the photos and video clips of her that were taken had been obscured by a pair of huge, and familiar, aviators shades.
"So Adam, what do you think? New Girlfriend corrupting our local celebrity?"
"I like to think she's some kind of bodyguard, did you see how roughed up that mugger?" Alexandera shut the TV off, falling back onto her pillow, not wanting to hear anymore of the vultures.
"Fuuuuuuuck."
"Yeah, I bet you did."
"Gene, I will give you a free vasectomy if you start this shit."
"How bad is it?"
"Remember that night the apartment flooded when I passed out in the shower?"
"Oof! Wanna meet up for the old cure-all? I have the day off with Noriko." Alexandera rubbed her eye's tiredly.
"Yeah, give me an hour."
Alexandera sat slumped in a plastic chair, hiding as best she could in the shade, physically cursing the loud ambience of traffic in the city. After throwing up in the hotels shower, and stuffing her hair into the pageboy cap as best she could, she braved the loud city to one of her old haunts, nursing a gingerale bought from the hotels kiosk. At least her own glasses blocked the worst of the light. She winced when she heard a young voice screeching.
"Hey!" Gene was pushing Lexie in a stroller, diaper bag slung across his shoulders as Noriko waved widely at the Chef, box in hand. "Heeeeeey!" Alexandera made no move to stand up as the family settled in around her, all of them bundled up far more than the Chef.
"Hey, Crotch Goblin."
"Don't call her that." Gene huffed.
"Sup, Womb Nugget." Noriko giggled at the defeated expression on her husbands face, as he tried to change the subject.
"When you'd start wearing hats? You didn't even were the chefs toque they provided at MCI."
"Got it from a friend for Christmas." Gene brightened, happy to hear she had friends out in Gotham looking out for her.
"Chefs toque?" Noriko looked between the two chefs. Alexandera piped up.
"Traditional chef's hat, the one's with a hundred folds. Said to represent the hundred ways you can cook an egg."
"Why eggs?" Noriko asked. Gene replied this time.
"Don't really know, but back in the old days if you wanted a job as a cook, or apprentice under one, usually they'd ask you to cook an egg. How you cooked it showed what kind of knowledge you have."
"It's just an egg, though." Noriko blushed faintly as the to chefs surrounding her chuckled, Gene opened his mouth to launch into a lengthy explanation, but Noriko cut him off. "Don't, you know it's just going to go over my head. Food nerds."
"Say's the weeb."
"Tsun-Tsun, you doing okay?" Alexandera groaned, rubbing her face.
"Don't call me that. Call me Bitch, Fuckhead, hell call me Cunt, but don't call me a Tsundere. I'm not a Tsundere." Gene blustered, trying to cover his daughters ears, while Noriko laughed harder at the glowering Chef.
"You can't deny it!" Noriko pushed a finger to the Chef's cheek, which was away swatted half heartedly. "I brought senorita bread." The wife pulled back quickly, blocking the greedy hand that tried to snatch the box. "Admit it, and you can have some." The Chef slumped further in the chair, grunting.
"What was that?" Noriko questioned teasingly. The Chef rolled her eye dramatically.
"Fuck, fine. I'mstsundere." It was hissed out behind her teeth quickly.
"I'm sorry?"
"UGH! I'm a TSUNDERE! I LIKE CUTE FRILLY THINGS AND SHOJO ANIME AND SHIT!" The pure hatred in the glare she leveled at the Wife would drop most men to their knees in fear. "Now give me the fucking bread before I eat the damn table." Noriko laughed, passing the box to the Chef, who tore the box open, shoving the bread into her mouth whole.
"Admitting it is the first step to acceptance." Noriko pulled a small tupperwear bowl from her purse, pulling the top off as she passed a snack to her daughter, who was eyeing the angry women with interest.
"I 'cept m'shelf jush' fine." Alexandera grunted, mouth full.
"I know, I just wanted to hear you say it." Gene interrupted the conversation once he was sure his daughter was situated.
"So what happened yesterday, for real?" He grabbed his own stick of sweet bread, careful of the hand not being smacked away by the woman. Alexandera was a damn good cook, but she hated sharing from her plate.
"Lex invited me over, told me plans were up to me. Paintball was fun." The Chef snorted, "Shoulda known that a hundred bucks wasn't enough to keep the dicks at the paintball course quiet."
"You actually tried to bribe someone to keep them from gossiping?" Noriko tore her own bread in half, placing half on the tray in front of Lexie, who abandoned her strawberries in favor of the treat.
"Yeah, you'd think after living in Gotham this long I would know better." Alexandera took a swig from her drink. "Bad decisions are my legacy."
"Okay, so paintball. What else?"
"I had signed up for a pub crawl, invited him with me. It was fine as far as I can remember, then I woke up in my hotel."
"Was he there?" Noriko pressed, eyes wide.
"What? No." It took a moment for the Chef to catch the hidden meaning. "Oh god, you're one of them." Noriko shrugged.
"Guilty as charged. Now give me the T."
"You gotta order it at the truck." The Chef nodded her head to the taco truck some distance away. Noriko rolled her own eyes. "No, I was alone, still smelling like booze and covered in paint."
"What's he like?"
"A dick." Gene chuckled at the Chef's immediant reply.
"He can't be that bad if you went on two dates with him."
"First one doesn't count. Inner fangirl me needed the first one to get her out of my system." Alexandera bit into a fresh piece of bread. "She's dead now."
"You don't deny it was a date, though."
"Why should I? Yeah it was a date, but I'm only here for a couple more days, them it's right back to the diner." Gene gave a sad smile, looking at his wife.
"You don't plan on coming back to Metropolis again?" Alexandera missed the tone Gene spoke in.
"No. There's nothing really here for me." It was silent at the table, traffic picking up as commuters battled each other to get back to work on time, Mexican pop music blaring from the trucks speaker system. Noriko broke the spell.
"You really are a bitch." Alexandera cocked her head as Gene lurched at his wife's uncharacteristic words.
"Yeah. You're point?"
"Gene missed you." The Chef had the decency to duck her head slightly. "You're important to him. Lexie hasn't stopped watching you like a hawk this entire time, and I'd like to dress you up in a maid outfit."
"The fuck you mean maid outfit?"
"What I mean is you have every reason to come here again." Noriko grabbed another bread. "You can run away from him, but you sure as hell can't from me."
"I didn't run away."
"Yes, you did. That's fine, some people need a fresh start, but you can't pretend this didn't happen." Gene placed a hand on his wife's shoulder, trying to placate her. "Like it or not, Tsundere, there are people here who would like to know if your still alive when you go back to Gotham. Your niece's also needs their Aunt, to spoil them and be a bad influence."
"Aunt?"
"Niece's?!" Noriko smiled widely at Gene's cry, while Alexandera's jaw dropped.
"Well, it could be a nephew, but I doubt it." Noriko shrugged as she reached into her purse.
"You're pregnant?" Gene blustered, tearing up.
"Fuck that, what's more important here is AUNT?" Gene shoved Alexandera, eyes locked on his wife as she pulled a pregnancy test sealed in a ziplock baggie.
"I had a feeling, took the test, confirmed it with my doctor. I'm about two months along." Gene swooped in, not bothering to check the test, as he kissed his wife soundly. Alexandera began a staring contest with the toddler in the stroller. Little Lexie gave a toothy grin, reaching out to the chef. Alexandera took the initative, unstrapping the child and picking her up. She stared at the child in her hands in wonder, that old familiar urge to run welling up in her.
"I... I don't know how to..." Alexandera looked at the cuddling couple, Gene yet to release his wife from his hold. "I didn't have a normal family. I don't know how to... Family." Noriko felt her heart give a little clench, pity for the Chef filling it.
"We can teach you." Deja'vu hit the Chef hard, as she pulled the child close to her in a snug if awkward hug. Run away! Her head screamed. Stay! Hey heart cried. I'm gonna hurl if you don't feed me! Her stomach grumbled. Lexie patted at the Chef's cheek, wondering where the blue was. Alexandera looked down at her namesake, who was frowning, trying to grab at her hat.
"I'm going to teach you all the dirty words, Crotch Goblin."
"Alexandera!" Noriko sighed happily as Gene tried to pull his child away from the Chef, to which she stood up walking towards the truck, child under her arm like a sack of potatoes, not that the child cared if her giggling shrieks had anything to say.
"Sorry, Womb nugget."
Lex accepted the tumbler of bourbon that his assistant Eve offered him. Today had been stressful, his PR nagging him about his activities last night, his board stressing the very small dip in stocks, the police asking for his statement about the would be thief, and the egregious amount of paperwork that needed his signature. Damage control rampant all because of yesterday. He didn't regret it though, it was the most fun he had had in a while.
"It looks like you have quite the approval rating regarding Miss Fox is high amongst your people, if social media has any say in the matter." Eve scrolled through feeds, showing off the most amusing ones to Lex. "I'd say after the it goes viral with the knowledge Miss Fox apprehended such a prolific mugger, it will only sky rocket, along with the stocks." Lex hummed, sipping at his glass.
"That should keep the board off my back." Lex leaned in his chair, shutting his computer off. "Any word?"
"It seems Cobblepot had been harassing Miss Fox and her diner, having a temper tantrum about her sudden popularity in the area. Until suddenly he changed his tune."
"And the actual reason?"
"Rumor has it the reason Cobblepot backed off is because of The Joker. Something about her technically being a part of his turf."
"Oh the Gallery and their rules." Lex chuckled, twirling the glass to and fro, watching as the light caught the ice in the glass. "And her?"
"Other than a brief stay in the drunk tank a few years back, she's clean." Eve put her tablet on the desk. "No warrants, no outstanding debts, hardly an online footprint. Just another random citizen."
"Oh, she's hardly that." Lex set his glass down, bringing a hand up to his chin. "What do you think?"
"I think you nothing to worry about. She doesn't do anything other than work at her diner. Even if she was on the Joker's dime, he's not... savvy enough to use her as a spy. She's far to abrasive to be a honeypot."
"I'd bet she'd be sweet." Lex smiled to himself. "What are my plans this evening?"
"A meeting with the Mayor about breaking ground on the west side at five, other than that you're free."
"Hmm, that can't be cancelled. Eve, send word to my driver to be ready to leave in twenty."
"Right away, sir." Eve grabbed her tablet again walking to the elevator.
"Eve." She stopped turning back to her boss.
"Yes, sir?"
"I know that tone."
"What good will she be to you?" Eve continued when her boss gestured with his hand. "She's not a socialite, she has nothing to offer you, and with her display last night, while great for the short run." She was lucky she had a better relationship than most with the Luthor, having been with him for many, many years. She could ask such questions without fear of losing her position with him. Neither of them.
"Honestly, Eve, she's... fun." Lex stood, turning to stand at the large window, overlooking the city. "Doesn't throw herself at me, doesn't pout for attention or whine for my credit card." Eve's brow raised, surprised at the fond tone.
"If you were to pursue her, would you let her in on your... other business?"
"Perhaps. She seems to be good at keeping secrets, if your sources are correct."
"They always are."
"Besides, what the point in letting her in on such things, she seems to already have her hand full."
"And if she were to reject you?"
"Oh, Eve, I'm a Luthor. I never lose."
Alexandera sighed in content as she flopped onto the bed, belly full of shrimp and pico de gallo. It brought back old and not entirely unwelcome memories of her younger years, drinking til she passed out, waking up to stuff her face with tacos before bussing to MCI. Lunch with Gene and Noriko had revolved around stories about the married couple and their excitement about the impending child. Lexie refused to be put back in her carrier once the Chef had taken hold of her, fussing when they had to part ways. Alexandera phone began to ring, the one in her boot, and she toyed with the idea of just ignoring it. That could cause problems. Shuffling it out, she answered it.
"What?"
"Hiya, Sunshine!" said the bubbly voice. "How ya doing?" Alexandera huffed.
"'M alright. Just got back from lunch. What's up?"
"Welllll, I were wonderin' how ya feelin' after the party ya had last night." The Chef smoothed her hair back.
"Why does... nevermind. Fine I guess. Don't remember much but the news pretty much covered the more important bits."
"Is Lexykins treatin' ya right?" the Clown giggled, "Don't need ta rough 'im up, do I?"
"No."
"Oooh, you're no fun." Alexandera could imagine the pout on the blondes face. "Well you gonna go out tonight? With him?"
"No? Why you being nosy?"
"Aw, come on! This is ta first time I've seen ya actually go out, without one of us draggin' ya around! Plus, ya know, how longs it been since ya had some dick?"
"Harley! My fucking sex life is none of your business!"
"A year?"
"I swear to god, Quinn, stop."
"Three years?"
"QUINN!"
"'Kay, more than that. Whew, Girlie! Ya need ta get laid!" Alexandera groaned.
"I'm not sleeping with him."
"Ya don' need ta sleep with him. Ya got options out here."
"Pft, like who?"
"Well, there's always Eddie!"
"I am NOT sleeping with Puzzles."
"Johnny?"
"Quinn, the day I sleep with Jekyll, is the day I decide suicide is a viable way to die."
"What 'bout Hattie? Ya seem to get along with him."
"Harley, what is wrong with you?"
"I'm not hearin' a nooo!" Harley sang out.
"He'd have to go brain control to get to my 'Wonderland'." Harley laughed.
"Yer so funny, Sunshine!"
"Why did you call, really?" Alexandera heard a drawn out sigh over the phone.
"Mistah J's been super duper busy an' he don' need me right now. I'm just feelin' a little lonely."
"Buy a vibrator."
"Oh I got TONS of those, I just wanted someone ta talk to, ya know?"
"And Ivy is busy?" There was a beat of silence.
"She, ah.. She's busy, too."
"What about... what's her name, Serena?"
"Ya mean, Kitty? I don't know, she's kinda hard ta pin down."
"I'm sure if anyone can pin her down, it'd be you."
"Ya wanna find out, Sunshine?" It was said seductively.
"Sorry, Quinn, I prefer gingers."
"Eddie's a ginger."
"He's an ass."
"So it'd be considered anal, that can be fun."
"Ugh, Quinn!"
The Chef still couldn't get all the paint out of her hair, flecks of green clinging adamantly to the strands. Sitting on the bed in a plush bathrobe courtesy of the hotel, hair still dripping wet from the second shower of the day, Alexandera sat looking over the hotels room service menu, she had yet to actually order food from it, having eaten out the three days she had been in the city. Ready to order just half the menu to try it, there was a knock on the door. The Chef ignored it, reaching for the phone on the end table, ready for Lobster Thermador, the knocking persisted. The Chef groaned, standing. The knocking continued as she made her way to the door, opening it.
"The fuck?"
"I'm not interrupting, am I?" Luthor eyed the bathrobe appraisingly.
"Technically, yeah. Was about to order dinner." Alexandera made no move to let him in. "What are you doing here?"
"I come bearing food, Miss Fox." He pulled a bag of togo boxes from behind his back with a flourish. "I don't know about you, but I woke up today to quite the headache." The Chef snorted, rolling her eyes as she finally backed away from the door, granting silent permission to come in.
"Tell me about it. What'd you got?"
"Incredibly greasy Philly cheesesteaks and onion rings." Lex shut the door behind him, walking toward the little dinette in the corner.
"Man after my own stomach. Let me put clothes on."
"Don't feel the need to on my behalf."
"Laying it on thick, huh?" Alexandera asked, grabbing some clothes from her bag on the dresser, as well as Jonathon Christmas gift. Just in case.
"You can't blame me for trying."
"I'd sure as hell would question it. I'll be right back." Alexandera dressed in the bathroom, long sleeves and sweat pants. She grabbed a hairband and slipped it on her wrist, sliding the "pepper spray" under it against her wrist, before covering it up with the sleeve. When she stepped out, Lex had already laid the food out.
"Why would you question my flirting?" Lex asked, sitting with his back to the wall, waiting to eat until she sat.
"The way I see it, you more curious about me than attracted."
"Can I not be both?"
"You bang super models on the regular." Alexandera finally sat, immediately munching on the onion rings. "I'm not exactly giving you any signals I WANT sex. So, curiosity it is. Or you can't take a hint." Lex took a bite from his sandwich, mulling his response over.
"I am attracted to you. You're very different than the women that I usually associate with. Can I not be intrigued by how... blasé you are?"
"Sure you can."
"I like that you don't seem to be hunting for my money."
"I'm not. Got all the money I need."
"I also like how blunt you are, you speak plainly. I don't feel like I have to analyze everything you say."
"Don't get a lot of that, do you?"
"Do you find me attractive?"
"Yeah."
"Do you enjoy spending time with me?"
"What I can remember, sure." Lex winced.
"We did drink quite a bit, didn't we?"
"Eh, I've been that drunk before, I'll get that drunk again one day." Lex's gaze flickered to the near empty bottle of liquor by the bed.
"Did you see-"
"Yeah. Don't really care. More annoyed than anything, celebrity gossip really isn't my thing." The Chef snorted, biting into her Philly. "Kitchen gossip is one thing, blows of steam, that shit is just... stupid."
"People are intrigued by you, as well." Lex smiled when the Chef shrugged her shoulders.
"Don't really care."
"I like that about you." Lex leaned forward. "I have to keep appearances up constantly, it's amazing to me to meet someone who just..."
"Doesn't give three fucks, two shits, or a rats ass about what people think?" Lex cackled at the Chef's words.
"Well, I was going to say something a little more eloquent, but yes." A pause. "Would you sleep with me?"
"Not tonight."
"No, I mean ever?"
"Maybe. I'd have to get to know you."
"Would you like to?"
"Sure."
"I appreciate your honesty."
"Mhmm." Alexandera took another bite of her sandwich, not bothering to wipe stray juices from her cheek.
"You really don't care do you."
"We gonna keep going around in circles with this conversation?"
"Would you like to try for a relationship?"
"Not trying to friendzone you, but I'd have to get to know you a bit more before I start making decisions like that."
"I'm willing to put in the effort."
"Lex, I'm going back to Gotham in couple of days. Your gonna be hard pressed to find the time to hang out with me. I'm also not a pleasant person."
"I suppose you're half right. I have many projects I'm working on, but you are quite delightful, in my opinion."
"Thanks, but I didn't ask for your opinion." Lex laughed, realizing the joke once the Chef gave a halfcocked grin.
"Too bad, I'm afraid I don't have a return policy."
Alexandera woke the next morning to knocking on her door again. He surprise dinner with Lex ended up with him staying until late into the night, both simply talking about anything, mostly Lex asking questions about the Chef. It was... pleasant. She couldn't remember the last time she had a decent conversation that wasn't some kind of criminal. She got out of bed, slipping the robe back on as she walked to the door, yawning. Her mouth stayed open when she saw the figures in the hall.
"Kid?!"
"Good morning, Lady Chef."
"What in the actually fuck are you doing here?" Alexandera was at a loss as Damien and Alfred stood outside her door.
"You did not text me you had returned safely after I spoke with you on the phone."
"You called have called me!"
"I tried to dissuade him from coming, Miss Fox." Alfred gave an apologetic smile.
"How did you even know where I was?"
"I have my ways, Lady Chef." All Alexandera could do was pinch the bridge of her nose, walking back into the room as the butler and boy billionaire followed after. When had her life gotten so wild.
"Got the surveillance of the diner right here, Boss." A flash drive was placed on a crate, some feet away from a shadowed figure. "The Jefe's have agreed to join us, and production has gone up."
"Good. Scout the pick-up. Make sure there's no surprises when we get the shipment in."
"Sure thing, Hood."
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Longer chapter than usual, I hope you enjoy. We've got one more chapter in Metropolis, than it's back to Gotham the Chef goes.
Id like to give some huge love to Brookie Twiling. She made a Cover and a Moodboard for Order! and Made me tear up. Thank you so much! It means so much to me. I made the mood board my background to my laptop. Here her link brookietwilingbooks . wordpress graphics /
Thank you all so much for the reviews and love and grats on the story and my life. I have a small anectdote to share with you regarding some spooky stuff that happens to me, in honor of Halloween.
I have an AntiSepticEye shirt. I've owned it for a few couple of years and I love it to pieces. The thing is, I hardly ever wear it. Not because it doesn't fit me, or that I can't wear it anymore, but because it disappears and reappears at random. Swear to the gods. I'll do a load of laundry and it will be there, but when I fold the clothes, it's missing. This happened a few times, and I told my fiancé about it. He didn't believe me until HE started noticing that it went missing when doing laundry. We'll fold and put the clothes away and for about a month or so, neither of us can find that damned shirt. Then all of a sudden POOF!It's in the dresser, or slightly under the bed, or hung up on a coat hanger, or even shoved in with the dirty laundry even though we washed it. Weirder thing it, I don't han up short sleeves or tshirts, Only dresses and button ups, and my fiancé knows that too, so neither of us know how exactly it gets there. I have a haunted shirt you guys! As it stands it missing right now, even though we both made sure it went into the washer last go around. Oh well, I'll see it again in a months or so.
Hope you all had a happy Halloween.
The world would be bleaker without you
s742