Victor Zsasz, infamously brutal enforcer for hire, sat at his tiny kitchen table, his right leg bouncing. His brown eyes stared at the ceiling; pulled away from the glow of his phone that showed the text message from Olivia. Olivia Ferris Wayne. The address was the famous Wayne Manor. He was going to keep his word but he was in over his head for the first time in a while.

She wasn't a mark that he could turn off to deal with. Just the daughter of the most powerful man in the entire city. Maybe even the country! He's gotten close to far more actively dangerous people through their loved ones before. So why was this so different? Why did this make him feel like he was about to walk into hell? She's sweet. Too sweet for him. He expected the facade of a good girl to drop away but it never did.

A quick search of her name yielded heart-string pulling articles of a girl that lost her parents in a tragedy, was rejected by her father's family and then taken in by bleeding heart Bruce Wayne. Every image was her clinging to Bruce Wayne's hand or excitedly running towards him. Then there were the brothers around her. Based on build alone the one that picked her up on his bike was the second youngest, Damian. Something about the way that kid shoots daggers in all of his photos, even more so in candid ones with titles like 'Wayne Siblings out shopping'.

He knows she's excited. She sounds excited even through text! 'It took some convincing but my dad agreed to let me go without a chaperon!' She's seventeen. He can't have her out too late. Why was he worried about that?! Does a curfew even apply to anyone that fucking rich? Victor rubbed his face and groaned into his palms. He wanted to see her again. His little "assignment" was over and he was already needed at another. There might not be opportunities this time around to slip off and catch her skating in the park.

Sitting agitated turned to pacing between rooms. He was going! He was keeping his word if only to keep from making her sad. Standing up Bruce Wayne's daughter might put a target on his back. He doesn't need more. She doesn't need any... He's going! He donned his finest casual clothes and let her know he was on his way.

It is a long drive from a rougher end of Gotham to the very edge. Up a small mountain and onto a road Victor would come to realize was the longest driveway he has ever seen in his life. Did they own the whole mountain? Are people allowed to do that? The motorcycle of questionable ownership stopped at heavy ornate gates. Too tall to scale without equipment.

He had to stop thinking along those lines!

Before he could slip off his bike to ring for entry one gate swung open to let him in. A house this big was insane. Victor picked a small apartment on purpose. He didn't have a lot of stuff and the smaller the space the easier it was to make it feel lived in. It felt like his mind was trying to process nearly 20 years of information in the minute it would take for him to get to the front door. This was the dumbest and out of his depth he'd ever felt in his life but thankfully he didn't wear all of that on his face.

At the top of the stairs one of the massive black doors swung open. It was the driver dressed in black with hints of white. He was getting on in his years but looked sharp. "Mister Zsasz," the man said, then gave a bow before waving him inside. "My apologies. Mistress Olivia is still readying herself. If you will follow me to the parlor you may wait for her there." Victor took in his surroundings and he was having conflicting feelings about where he was. The smug audaciousness that let him waltz through the dining rooms of expensive restaurants uninvited, take up the living rooms of mob bosses like he owned the place was slowly being nudged over by an awareness that compared to this family he had no right to be here. Even an invitation extended to him would be seen as a mistake if accepted.

"Sorry sorry!" came Olivia's voice from a corridor and the rapid tapping of her footsteps as she rounded a corner into the foyer. Her cheeks were flush, hair tied in a low bun and outfit simple but cute. "I...I was-"

"She was having a panic attack," came a bored voice from behind Olivia. Damian Wayne dressed in all black and barefoot stood about as tall as Victor and easily peered over Olivia's head. "She's never been on a real date before so she's nervous as hell."

"Ooo, stop talking!" she huffed and smacked at his arm. Distracted from her nerves she could finally think clearly. "Victor, this is my brother Damian. Damian this-"

"Victor Zsasz. Enforcer and notorious shit-stirrer of Gotham's underbelly. Your employers loosen that leash enough to give you time off?"

"Damian!" Olivia snapped!

A smile crept on Victor's face and he felt pushed back into his element. "I was expecting the man of the house, not a kid scared his sister is spending time with anyone but him." Olivia's eyes were wide and the ozone kicked up before she stepped out of the room. Her eyes met with Alfred's before rolling.

"I do not know what you were expecting, Mistress Olivia," he began as he handed her a jacket and then a spare motorcycle helmet. "This was inevitable."

"Her time would be better spent with anyone but you," Damian stated with his hands in his pockets and not a hint of emotion on his face. It was like two statues facing off.

"She seems to find me worthy enough," Victor retorts with a smirk.

"She devalues herself too often. We're helping her with that."

Alfred raised his voice to carry, not to yell. "Mistress Olivia is to be home by nine. The weather is favorable today so worry not for that. Master Damian, you have your lessons to attend to."

"If anything happens to my sister I'll make sure you live a life full of fear for the rest of your days." Turning to his sister his expression softened but not by much. "Call if you need anything. Father's working late today."

"Yes yes!" Olivia huffed. A warm smile was given to Alfred, she gave a dismissive wave to her brother then took Victor's arm to head outside. The two young men stared daggers at one another until it was no longer appropriate. Out of ear shot and on Victor's bike she sighed. "Sorry about him. He can be a jerk sometimes."

"I kinda expected that. I think it would be insulting if he wasn't worried about you. Shows he cares."

"Well don't take those threats of fear seriously. He doesn't mean it."

That had Victor laughing. "Oh he does! Trust me I can feel that to be true. Now hold tight, Sunshine. Oh and you look really cute today." The smell of ozone and now the tingle of static against his back.

"Thank you." All their worries were washed away by one standoff.

Earlier Olivia did in fact have a panic attack. All that work to get her father to agree to her going on this date and she nearly canceled it before Victor said he was on his way. This was her first real date. Slipping off to walk around campus with a boy didn't count in her book. Her time after his text was spent calming herself down enough to not burst out of her skin.

Five hours. They were given five hours to spend together doing whatever came to mind. There was no possible way they would lose track of time or feel compelled to spend that much together. One of them was bound to get bored of the other.

The ride back into Gotham was smooth enough. Olivia held on like someone used to being on a bike so Victor could relax where that was concerned. The most densely walk-able center in Gotham was the first destination. Nearly four city blocks are packed with stores, restaurants and cafes. There were also playgrounds for Gothamites of all ages to enjoy their time outside and food trucks sprinkled about.

Olivia zeroed in on a shop selling decadent, dessert crepes. She needed something sweet to refuel.

"Did you really have a panic attack?" Victor asked to quickly distract Olivia while he slyly paid for the both of them. A fact she would huff about later.

"I was nervous!" she said defensively. "I've only had surprised chats while my dad talked business with their dad. And I don't consider those dates."

"Really? Figured Bruce Wayne's daughter would be the most eligible bachelorette in the city. Your dad probably has to sift through fan mail to send out rejections." A tease but he watched her expression sour.

"When a rich boy is interested in you it's usually cause he wants to fuck with no strings attached or his parents are putting them up to it. It's kinda annoying because they're never honest about it. Casual sex is not a big deal, just be up front." Victor coughed and seemed to choke on his snack. "Oh, are you okay?!"

After finally being able to take a breath he nods. "All good, Sunshine. You just uh...surprised me there."

"..." She arched her brow. "Are you equating being a good person to purity bullshit?"

"When you put it like that I guess I was. You're so diabetically sweet that I may have assumed too much about you."

"That'll get you in trouble," she chastised with a hand over her mouth full of crepe.

He smiled before reaching up to brush crumbs off the corner of her mouth. "I thrive in trouble." Her face may have been red were she of a lighter complexion but she didn't shrink away and there was a lack of ozone. Could it be because they were in a crowd?

Their next stop was people watching. It seemed it wasn't often Olivia got to wander the shops in this area without a relative or butler in tow. It was also not often Victor was on this side of town and not searching for someone that needed to be dealt with. He took in the things that caught her attention and held it the longest. The girl didn't have expensive taste but good taste in general. What stalls or trucks they stopped for snacks were almost mind blowing. Her window shopping at boutiques had Victor considering possible gifts. He was getting too far ahead of himself. This was just the first date!

Olivia kept watch of Victor as well. If it seemed he was dissecting the crowd more than just idle observation she would pull his attention to her, happily tugging him along to a shop or anything that caught her eye. She was determined to pay for some things while they were out! Sadly it was items just for her. There is a boutique that sells fabric and she orders a bolt of a lovely green cloth to be sent back to the mansion.

"Hey, give me your hand," Victor told her while clearly holding something behind his back. She did as asked and squealed at the tiny woven octopus key-chain he dropped into her palm. "I'm guessing your stuffed animal you sleep with is an octopus."

"Are you observing me that closely?" she asked with her eyes narrowing but a smile returned as well as her glee.

"Force of habit. These powers I have can be used for good after all." Her arms were thrown over his shoulders in a hug and he felt his face warming up and then dread. Over Olivia's shoulder was a familiar face in the distance. A man in a suit leaning over to speak to another and point at Victor. The wild look he shoots across the busy courtyard is enough to make anyone's blood run cold. As he pulls away from Olivia the men do their best to become scarce and Victor ensures they do not get to see her face.

Oblivious, the girl hugged the tiny octopus to her chest. "I have to figure out something to get you too."

A soft expression returned to Victor's face. "You're enough." There was silence between the two of them while Olivia jumped to a conclusion. "I meant spending time with you," he explained, then rubbed at the back of his neck. "Fuck, I feel at my dumbest when I'm around you."

"Is that a bad thing? Means you're relaxed and hopefully means you're having fun?" she asked sheepishly.

"I am. Let's find a quieter place to relax. I'm getting the vibe you're not big on crowds."

"I have my moments but the later it gets, the busier this place is becoming. Not fond of being bumped into." His arm was offered to her and she happily took it. Victor was quite skilled at navigating a sea of people. It was all too easy to guide them out of their path then dance around the otherwise distracted. Once at the parking garage Victor sent Olivia ahead to the bike, saying he might have dropped something and needed to look. She knew he was lying but went on and did indeed wait patiently at their ride.

It had to be something important that couldn't wait and didn't need her eavesdropping. It's what she wants to believe. A small wall held up between them separating their different worlds all for her sake. A whistle echoed through the garage causing her to sit up. Three young men were making their way down on foot and came across her by chance.

"Hey, baby girl. Nice bike you got there," one spoke and slowed the group to a stop a comfortable distance but still not far enough for Olivia's liking.

"It's not mine, it's my boyfriend's." A defensive lie to get them to leave. As they stepped closer she tensed but kept control of herself.

"Kinda shitty for your man to leave you waiting around like this."

"I don't require supervision like an infant." One of the three seemed reluctant to linger but he did nothing to keep his friends from getting closer to the girl.

"Getting a better look at her, she's clearly some kind of model." Another sharp whistle made Olivia's skin crawl. "You hit the runway or just magazine spreads?"

"Please keep your distance and your inquiries to yourselves." Her eyes became a white light, her hair raised and ozone flooded around her as her locks sparked wildly. "Wouldn't want you getting hurt." The three backed up growing defensive.

"Yeah well who wants anything to do with a meta freak anyway?" The first to turn was the first to fall back having slammed into Victor's chest. "Man, what the fuck?!"

He was deathly silent, taking in their faces and bringing the energy of a man that has been crossed one too many times today. "Cornering a lady in a dark place like this? How cliché. Run along little pigs before I let her kill you." His tone was ice cold but an unnerving calm on his face. Olivia was still lit up and clutching her helmet to her chest.

"Dude, let's fucking go already!" The three stepped around Victor with Victor not bothering to move. Once they were on to the next level he hurried to Olivia. She calmed and shook out her hair.

"I'm sorry. I didn't know how else to get them to leave me alone," she breathed.

"Don't be. I took longer than I should have but...I did get to see you use your powers. Stunning," he said smiling. He stepped close and did not hesitate to place his hands over hers on the helmet. She was trembling. "Come on, Sunshine. Let's get some fresh air." Olivia seemed quite charged but she managed a weak smile and readied to ride out. The trio were passed and the cruiser roared near them making one nearly jump out of his skin. Victor felt Olivia tighten her hug around his waist to sit closer than when they rode in.

A quiet park would be their respite. Deep into the one Olivia would skate through, the two would find the space they wanted. Other park goers were few and far between, sticking more to the pavement than wandering down paths worn into the grass. A lone bench near a small lake. Ducks and a family of swans floated about or even walked past them having no fear of humans. While she sat back straight and ankles crossed like a refined lady, he sat leaning forward with his arms resting on his knees and fingertips pressed together. Before he could speak a word it felt like an eternity had passed. How was he to comfort her after an episode like that? "You doing better, Sunshine?" he asked in a soft voice. The hushed tone seemed a slight rumble in her ear.

Olivia teetered over until her head was resting on his shoulder. "I'm okay. I guess I put more merit in people knowing who I am than I should have. I didn't know guys could be so...menacing and normal at the same time either."

"Yeah there are quite a lot of guys like that. More like the quiet one though. Doing nothing."

"...You were watching?"

"Just enough to know I wouldn't have to second guess breaking an arm if they touched you. Promised your brother nothing would happen. Wanting to see you taze them was only mildly tempting."

"I'm not sure how I should feel about what happened."

"Angry? I left you on your own when I should have been more considerate. Disappointed in humanity? Maybe a little bit of pride. You stood your ground and didn't cause three heart attacks without having to lift a finger." He grinned while looking at her. "I would pay good money to watch you zap someone. Just once. Just a little."

"I...I don't like hurting people," she said with her head hanging low.

Victor gently tilted her head back up to look into her eyes. "Some people deserve the pain they receive...namely me." Olivia puffed up her cheeks. Irritated was better than her being depressed. "Just a tiny zap. Just to know what it feels like!" He clapped his hands together and turned to face her a little more. "Please!"

"Absolutely not!" she huffed. "Haven't you ever been tasered?"

"I have not. I am simply too fast."

"Well I'm not going to. Atleast not on purpose!" His eyes were wide with glee. "No! No no no! Don't you dare try to make me. I don't want to hurt you."

"But what if I'm into it?" he asked with a shrug. Olivia rolled her eyes and groaned. "Okay, I'm done. How are you feeling now, Sunshine?"

"...Like I could eat again. There's a nice sushi place not far from here."

"Absolutely terrified you were about to suggest ice cream or something. Sugar can only sustain a man for so long."

"We had like three different desserts! And they were good, so hush!" Victor held out his hand to help her to her feet and led her back to his bike. Along the way his phone buzzed in his pocket but it was ignored. She imagined he may get in trouble with the people who hire him if he leaves them on the hook for too long but he was focused on her. So much so that he was taken back when she kept their conversations centered on him. What things did he like? Hobbies he had. Trinkets that were just a neat thing for him to collect. He was fond of rings and bracelets. He has a bit of an eye for fashion but that was born out of necessity. There were times he had to look the part he was told to play.

Hobbies? People watching but mostly riding around on his motorcycle. Going anywhere whenever he liked. Having no one to truly answer to let him do this often. She was jealous. Olivia may not like to think of herself as living in a gilded cage but there were times when it felt that way. Maybe when she is eighteen that would change.

A feature that he fixates on when he's attracted to someone? "Lips, it's a real problem for me too," he admits. "I tend to just...stare at them and lose focus on what is going on around me."

Olivia tips her head to the right. "Is that why you're always sitting beside me?" He opened his mouth then leaned back to try and feign ignorance of his own behavior. "Mm, I see. I guess I tend to like everything about whoever catches my eye up until something throws me off." She grimaced from memory. "A terrible voice can really break the illusion." Her ears burned at the sounds of his phone vibrating away. "You should probably get that, Victor."

"It's not important." And his eyes were drifting away to her lips with a wistful look about him.

Olivia gently raised his chin to force him to make eye contact. "But it could be."

After examining her expression he gave a nod then slipped off with the check for their meal to pay and then took his call outside. "Oz, you'd think we were dating with how desperate you are to get a hold of me today. I told you I'm busy."

"Oh we know. Already a rumor floating around you're trying to seduce that Wayne girl."

Victor clenched his jaw but pressed on. "What do you want?"

"Information. I want to know the angle you're playing and for who."

"You're not cutting my checks right now. Unless you've got an enticing job for me you'll have to wait for my undivided attention." He avoided answering the question all together. It won't be enough to shake Cobblepot's suspicions but it will get Victor's point across.

"You're putting a target on that girl's back, boy. If I found out then someone else will. If something happens to one of Gotham's daughters this city will get turned upside down."

"Won't that be fun." A tap and the call ended. This was turning into a sick joke. He couldn't let this grow beyond a one time thing.

Olivia stepped out onto the sidewalk and gently nudged Victor to get his attention. It wasn't needed, the moment the door opened he knew it was her. "Victor...it's getting late," she began.

He took her hand in his and raised it up to kiss her knuckles. "Then let's get you home before your brother starts hunting for my head."

The ride back to Wayne Manor was uneventful outside of one hand of his drifting to one of Olivia's pressed against his abs. He'd set his mind to ending this. His life was already dangerous enough of a game for him. He had no right to drag an innocent girl into the middle of it. She'd be a means to control him, back him into a corner. The world didn't need to be any less kind to her. This was nice but this was over.

Outside the gates of Wayne Manor the engine of Victor's bike was killed. Olivia helped herself down, quickly removing her helmet and smiling as she shook out her hair. They were early which meant a bit more time before she'd be ushered back inside. She didn't expect to spend most of the day with him. Even with the few hiccups she was confident things went well. Hearing Victor behind her she turns, face lit up like a candle with her smile. "I had a lot of fun today!" The expression the young man wore was plain and just a little sullen. "Victor?"

"I'm glad you had fun, Sunshine cause there's not going to be another one." The light in her that started to dim went out. His voice was firm, body relaxed but something in his mind was roaring.

"Oh...I...Okay." She took in a breath and tried to steel herself. "I thought we were really clicking." More than she could possibly realize. "Did I do something wrong?"

"The only thing wrong was having any interest in me." He had to be colder. Make her hate him or devastate her to the point she'll never look his way again. All he had to do was push himself to do so. Don't give her hope. "We are in two very different worlds. The chances I could climb as high as you are slim but the chances of dragging you down to mine are greater and I don't want to put you through that."

"Bullshit," she muttered. Good. Be angry. Olivia took a quivering breath in, sucked in her bottom lip and looked off.

"You know what I do for a living and you deserve someone that's not going to make you wait for them to be better." Another sharp breath in from her before the tears started to cut down her cheeks. He'd let her rip his heart out if it made her feel better. If it helped her forget about him. The game plan was to keep his distance but he quickly closed the gap between them to brush the tears from her face. "I am not worth crying over."

"But I think you are," she said as her voice cracked. She felt as though she was falling apart. A hole was growing in her chest, robbing her of her voice and making it hard to breathe. If she were anyone else would this be happening? If he cared less would he even bother with breaking this off? String her along until he had what he wanted? "If it were easy to change what you do, would you?" she asked. The vivid color of her honeyed eyes was a dull yellow.

It was like he was smothering a part of her but it had to be this way. "In a heartbeat, Sunshine," he replied, barely above a whisper.

"Liar!" she cried, her voice cracking once more before she pushed up onto her toes and kissed him. It was the last thing she'd have from him. He must have set his mind in stone as he did not move, but the moment she pulled away he snatched her back. One arm hooked against her lower back and his free hand cupping her cheek as he aimed to drown them both in a deeper kiss. He was losing his mind. He was truly at his most foolish when she was around. The air around them was charged and he felt the smallest spark against his lips as they parted from hers. Their brows were pressed together, both breathing as though they'd run for miles. "Goodbye, Victor."

Olivia pulled free, plucked up her helmet and hurried through the gate. She wasn't going to look back. He wasn't going to follow her. This was it. She kept herself in one piece even after she closed the door behind her, back pressed to it and one hand over her mouth. There was silence for an agonizing moment before the roar of his motorcycle tore through the night air and quickly faded away into the night. The lights dimmed in the hall, she dropped to the floor wailing, alerting her family who rushed to learn what happened. As if they didn't already know. She'd been followed the whole date. They should be happy he's gone. It's what they wanted.