BIG DISCLAIMER! Having forgotten that does not allow explicit works this is going there are going to be chunks missing (largely just intimate scenes). The unaltered version can be found on AO3. I won't stop posting here but it will take a bit more time to edit things out where needed.
The noise of bustling Gotham City seemed muffled as one girl's heart raced. An arm pressed just below her collarbone, a gust forcing her clothes to one side and then the shouting of the young man blocking her from the street. A cyclist had rushed by and would have clipped her had she'd successfully stepped into the gutter.
"Watch it, you fucking asshole!" the man roared, throwing up a finger as the cyclist turned to return one in kind. "Fucking amateur," he muttered then looked to the girl beside him. There was a strange hint of ozone in the air whilst he dropped his hand away and stepped back to give her space to breathe. "Hey, you good?" in a calm, slightly raspy voice.
The girl blinked, took a deep breath then gave a weak smile. "Yeah, I'm fine. Almost got run over," she laughed.
"He was trying to snag your phone," he said, sounding almost annoyed but at whom? "You should pay more attention. This park may be nice but oblivious townies like you get robbed all the time."
She grimaced, clutching her phone to her chest and nodded. "I'm not a townie or whatever but you're right. Just a little distracted. Thank you, by the way. Regardless of what that guy was up to, that was really nice of you."
He rolled his shoulders and shook his head. "It's no big deal. Normal people shit. Just keep your head up from now on."
The smile on the girl's face was warm as she nodded. "I'll do that." She kept her phone close to her chest instead of moving to place it in her backpack. Looking down she took another step further from the curb then held her head up as she looked about the metropolitan street. There was silence as it dawned on her that neither of them were moving from the spot. Looking out the corner of her eye he was leaning against a cruiser style motorcycle and bounced his brown eyes from face to face on the busy street.
His eyes shifted hard to look down at her with a slight glare. "Any particular reason why you're still hanging around me, sunshine?" he asked in a dark tone. "Not saving you again." The smell of ozone picked up and it seemed close by. Real close.
The girl cleared her throat and shuffled a few steps away from him. "I am just waiting on my ride!" she explained. "Crossing the street before they get here seems a little dumb now."
"...You're really sheltered aren't you? You from the suburbs or something?"
"No! One airhead moment doesn't make me new in town."
The young man seemed more relaxed and adjusted to sitting on his bike properly with his arms draped over the handlebars so he could examine her. Probably not much younger than himself. Knee and elbow pads; skating in the park. Her clothes looked expensive in spite of being active wear. He could see why the biker tried to take her phone. "Your boyfriend have you so distracted you'd nearly get run over?" he teased.
Her cheeks took a notable tint on her already dark skin and the smell of ozone thickened. That's when he finally saw it. The faintest crackle of static through her hair and her striking honey colored eyes. A meta-human? "It's no business of yours what I'm doing on my phone," she states then turns up her nose.
"Mm, takes you a bit to charge up the street smarts huh?" She only huffed and kept her eyes on the lookout for her ride. A masculine figure on a black sport-bike with a full helmet pulled up to the curb. It seemed she knew this person so he had a few less things to worry about. "Tell your boyfriend I say hi, Sunshine." What followed was the single most immature thing he'd seen all day. She turned to stick her tongue out at him then hopped onto the bike. He couldn't help laughing.
The rider's head turned towards the man on the sidewalk while the girl behind him pulled on the spare helmet. Facing forward and low enough that only she could hear him speak. "Don't talk to that guy anymore."
"Why? He's being a weirdo but he kept my phone from getting snatched," she explained.
"I'll tell you when we get home." The two pulled away with the bike roaring before weaving through traffic.
Another chance meeting brought the two strangers to the same spot outside the largest park in Gotham city. Another busy day but with the skies slowly growing dark. The girl looks anxious as she rises up on her toes to see over cars in-case her ride had parked nearby.
"Well if it isn't Miss Sunshine," the young man spoke from a relaxed pose on his cruiser. "See you're keeping a better eye on your things." Nothing from her. Oh he was intrigued now and gently walked his bike closer. "Am I that forgettable? I'm crushed."
Her lips pursed and hands around her backpack straps tightened. "I have been informed that I should not speak with you but it's rude to just ignore someone so I'm telling you that I can't."
A naked brow arched and a grin spread on his lips. "Ooo, did I get you in trouble with your boyfriend? A guy that jealous has a lot to hide, you know?"
Her nose scrunched up and she seemed quite disgusted. "That wasn't my boyfriend. He's my brother! And I'm not talking to you!" she huffed. The girl's hair sparked once more but this time he could hear the crackling between her brown kinks and curls. She was fidgeting unlike the first time they met.
As the pieces began to fall in place that smile turned sly. "You know who I am, don't you?" Their eyes met before she looked away. "Makes me super curious who your brother is to know about me...and more so to know who you are."
She blinked then looked at him in disbelief. "You...don't already know who I am?"
"Should I?"
"Maybe!"
"So tell me, Sunshine."
"Nope! I've got an advantage on you and I want to keep it. That and once people find out they get a little cagey around me. Which sucks..."
"Hm, rich girl willing to talk to a bad man in spite of what her brother says? Designer threads. I don't even think your shoes are on the market in the states yet. Spoiled and sheltered, cute oh...and a meta-human."
Her eyes literally lit up and now that scent of ozone came with a charge in the air between them. "Please do not say any more, Mr. Zsasz."
"Was it the meta-human thing? I know a lot of people hi-"
"Fuck no. I could care less if anyone thinks I'm a meta-human or not but I'm not going to confirm what you speculate or let you do so when I'm still around."
Zsasz grinned as he sat up on the seat of the bike. "Where was all this last time?"
"I had my guard down. I'm not going to make that mistake again. I still appreciate you helping me the other day and I don't think you did it with ulterior motives. Especially since you've no clue who I am and it feels you're being very honest about that."
The young man bowed his head then rolled his bike back. "Well okay then, Miss Sunshine." Silence fell between them. Zsasz, Victor Zsasz, kept watch for his mark while sparing a glance to the mystery girl beside him. She seemed to grow anxious as the sky got darker. Did that brother of hers forget her? With the smell of electricity gone he could pick up the rising petrichor scent. Maybe she doesn't do well in storms? That would be ironic given her apparent abilities.
The girl fished her phone out from one front pocket and scrolled through messages. 'On my way.' 'Stuck in traffic. Get indoors to stay dry.' She sucked in her bottom lip, looked up at the sky then out across the road ahead of them. Her expression grew more gloomy as she heard the first few sprinkles of rain before feeling it on her head. Zsasz could be heard adjusting his bike. He'd certainly be on his way. She froze when she felt him standing by her to drop his heavy leather jacket onto her head shielding her from the rain as much as one garment could.
"You're hopeless, you know that Sunshine?" Her head bowed and she reached up to tug the jacket further down to cover her eyes. The inside smelled of a faint cologne and what edges she could see were worn but not cracked. "Come on," Zsasz spoke before putting an arm around her shoulder. "Coffee shop across the street will keep you out of the rain." Her eyes rose back up and there was indeed a shop she'd seen often. The traffic was slowing but they would not take to a crosswalk, just right across the middle of the street, shortest distance between two points and all. Once she was beneath the shop's awning she pulled down the jacket and held it against her chest. It looked warm inside with a slow afternoon crowd.
As she looked back to Zsasz she handed back the jacket with that blush on her cheeks again. "Thanks," she said in a small voice. Knowing who he is, telling him as much and yet he was still so kind.
"Don't mention it. Don't want to get you into trouble, eh?" He took her in more now that he was facing her. Short, but that was obvious from the start. He teased her about being cute but she really was and also familiar. He's seen her face somewhere before and perhaps it was best he looked into that before he ends up stepping on a landmine he can't get away from. "Call your ride, make sure they're on the way. Stay-"
"Where the staff can see me. I know Zsa...Victor. I'm not a child, I just feel like one right now."
Her mouth opened to speak, closed then opened again before a frustrated grunt came out. Victor cants his head to the left. "Something on your mind, Sunshine?"
"Olivia!" Her eyes rose back up and she seemed a little lighter, more confident. "My name is Olivia."
He was taken back but smiled warmly to the girl. "Nice to finally meet you, Olivia. Not getting that last name am I?"
"I still want the advantage a bit longer," she said then hurried into the coffee shop to place a small order and wait for her ride by a window. From that spot she could see that Victor slipped on his jacket and went back to his bike to wait in the rain but for what? Probably whatever shady thing he was posted out here for. She didn't need to know but wished he could get out of the rain too.
Five minutes would drag by before a familiar black, luxury car pulled up in front of the shop. An old, distinguished gentleman stepped from the driver's side, hoisted up a black umbrella and approached the door. Before he could open it Olivia was on her way out, guided back to the car with not a drop of rain touching her head. As the car pulled away she looked back to see the rear lights of Victor's motorcycle as it left in the opposite direction.
"Apologies for the tardiness, Mistress Olivia. Your brother became indisposed on his way. It took some time to get into the city," the driver explained.
"It wasn't traffic was it?" They shared a knowing look in the rear-view mirror. "It's fine. I'll do better about checking the weather."
"Did you enjoy your time at the park, regardless of the short outing?"
Olivia reflected on the kind gesture from Victor and smiled. "I did."
Another weekend and Olivia stands outside the gate of the park having only just arrived. The same spot as always but Victor did not seem to be on lookout. Her heart sank but she came here to get time outside and would carry on with her routine. Once around the longest path of the park on her skates, then the shortest to see the ducks and cool down beneath the shady boughs of the densely planted trees. At the end of her trip she swaps over to her shoes and heads back to the gate. She was given a designated time for her ride to pick her up and there was still time to lounge and people watch.
"Starting to think you actually live in this park, Sunshine," Victor mused as the girl stepped past the wrought-iron gates. If Olivia was trying to hide how excited she was to see him again the light in her eyes gave her away.
"I could say the same about you," she replied then moved to stand close to him but facing the street as always. She wouldn't bother with following his gaze but she was still curious. "...Am I allowed to know why you sit out here? Same spot every time?"
"Are you going to tell me your last name?" he posed with his eyes slowly rolling up to meet hers. Silence. "There's your answer, Sunshine."
Olivia rocked on her heels as she mentally thumbed through her mind. "Can I ask other questions?"
"Can't promise I'll answer, but sure. Knock yourself out."
"Where'd you get your bike? We've got a few that look a bit like them."
"Stole it." He said this with a smirk and the girl scrunched up her nose. That felt like a lie.
"You ever been arrested?"
"More times than your poor heart could possibly bear to know."
"Mm, bragging. How old are you?"
He stood straight only to lean towards her. "What happened to you not talking to me?"
Olivia squared up with him, her hands behind her back and a sly smile on her lips. "Maybe I'm getting bold? Maybe I don't believe everything I'm told. How old are you?"
"What makes you think I'll tell you the truth?"
"What reason would you have to lie? Age please."
"Probably the same reason you won't tell me your last name. Nineteen."
"I'm a lot easier to find than you think. You just haven't tried looking. And I can tell you still don't know because you're humoring me right now." Her eyes focused on his face, really taking him in and then she furrowed her brow. "Do you shave...oh wait! Fuck, I'm sorry!" Her cheeks were dark, hair crackling and she could not look him in the eye.
Victor smirked. "I'm wounded! You just now catching on to the bald head?" he laughed. Olivia huffed, held her hands over her face and paced in a few small circles. Given the sun, how much taller he was or that standing close to a stranger can be rude she did not notice that Victor was not just bald, he was entirely hairless. No, eyebrows or lashes. Not even a patch of stubble on his chin.
Calm, or as close to that as she was going to get, she looks up at him. "I figured you shaved your head. Thought your brows were just like...super blonde?! I'm sorry. Oh I feel like such an idiot now!" And she was pacing again.
Victor laughed and reached out to gently tug on her backpack to keep her from walking in more circles. "Relax, Sunshine. Been like this for years now. No skin off my back, but now I want to ask questions too. Tit for tat." Olivia took a breath in then nodded. "Where do you go to school? Maybe I want to see you during the week."
"You can't. I go to a boarding school for meta-humans and we're not allowed to talk about the location. Keeps us safe. Are you in college?"
"Nah, was never big on school. Too slow for me. Wouldn't be able to afford one worth my time anyway. You seem the type to sleep with a stuffed animal."
"Doesn't everyone? Wait..." She scrunched up her nose. "Yeah, I can't see my brother ever sleeping with one. Maybe a knife. Do you have siblings?"
"Had."
"Oh...my condolences."
"Ancient history, Sunshine."
She sucked on her bottom lip but did not look away from him. "Doesn't mean it stops hurting."
"Why don't you want me to know who you are?"
"Because I think I like you. The second you learn who I am, who my family is, you'll change. Everyone changes. They treat me differently and it's a little isolating. The meta-human thing doesn't bother people as much as the family thing."
"Can't promise that I won't but you won't know until you find out right?"
"I...I don't want to find out Victor. I look forward to bumping into you like this and I'm sure whatever has you here won't last forever but I'd like it to."
"Come on Sunshine, you can't be that lonely wanting to hang out with a delinquent like me?"
"There's different kinds of company and I lack one when I come home for the weekends."
Victor watched her closely. Her eyes darted off and he could smell the ozone building. He gently rapped a knuckle against her forehead and smiled. "I get it. It'd be a huge fucking lie if I said I didn't like talking to you. You're cute, still a bit of an air head though. Gotta work on that." She huffed but he laughed. "You doing this to make your dad or brother mad at you?"
"I have a solid relationship with my family. I don't have to act out like a movie cliché." Olivia shifted back to resting on the ball of one foot more than the other. She was thinking again, picking her words carefully and weighing the risks behind them. It was such a curious thing for Victor to witness someone anxious around him in a way he was unfamiliar with. She was genuinely trying to earn his affection. "I'll tell you my full name if you promise me one thing."
"And that would be? Not giving you the bike. Stole it fair and square and you already said you've got plenty," he chuckled.
"I would like to go on a date with you." His eyes were wide as he was taken back. "Or just like...a hangout or whatever as friends."
"No, it's a date." A declaration of intent if there ever was one. "Next Saturday. I'll give you my number. You usually skate here around three? Skip the trip to the park. I'll pick you up at 4 and you can tell me your name and give me an address to pick you up the day of." He was holding his hand out to her and Olivia seemed stunned. Her phone was unlocked and handed over then soon after passed back.
She looked at his number saved into the contacts then back to Victor. "Damn, am I really so pathetic you couldn't say no?"
"You're not pathetic. Bold for sure. Though I might be a little crazy. My luck, you're some government official's secret daughter."
"You really never bothered trying to find out?"
He paused and reflected on her concerns. "Maybe I am a little worried things would change if I knew. I'm sticking to my word, Sunshine. Just promise this won't be a trap. I still have business to take care of and not looking forward to a night or two in Gotham PD."
"I wouldn't do that. You've given me no reason to think you're up to anything." Her eyes shot off to the left making contact with the elderly driver from before. He stood at the ready by the passenger door but his eyes were on Victor. "I've gotta go. I...I guess I'll see you on Saturday."
Victor's gaze never left Olivia. He could feel the eyes of her driver but he was unimportant. "Looking forward to it, Sunshine." Olivia took a few steps backwards, smiling. A small wave was given before she turned and hurried to the car. She was going to have to throw her weight around as the youngest of the family to get her dad to agree to her going on this date. A week should be enough time!