"Hey Red, wanna make a quick buck?" Victor asks while moving through his garage to check on the equipment he had loaded into the car and two motorcycles he owned. The high-tech one given to him by Red Hood was something he wished he could take for a spin during the day and might show off a bit to Olivia but she'd have more questions than anything.
"I don't do bachelorette parties anymore," came Red Hood's reply over the communication system they shared with the Robins. Victor had yet to meet up with the other two but they were made aware of his presence some time ago.
"Why does he get the offer?" asked Red Robin.
"Because you're too squeaky clean," Robin replies.
"Last I checked, you two aren't mercenaries. And I'm not trying to babysit," Victor explains
"What makes you think I'm not older than you?!" Red Robin said outraged.
There is silence from the other three. "Do...do you want a list?" Robin asked.
"I hate it here. What's the job? We might be able to help and let you keep all the money."
"Do you want to hunt down a venom'd out Riley?" Victor asked. Silence.
Red Hood sighed. "I'll bite. What happened?"
"No clue! Word is Riley left his gym for the first time in a week and hasn't been seen since. I've been running jobs too often to actually look for his ass and I've dealt with enough tagged up punks to know I wouldn't stand a chance against an actual fighter on that shit."
"So you want me to get punched instead of you?!"
"You do have the physique of a refrigerator that gained sentience," Robin comments. There's quite a bit of chuckling between the four.
"I swear, if you guys aren't related I'll be fucking surprised. Are you in, cause they want this motherfuck alive?"
"Fuck it. Yeah. When are we hitting him up?"
"In an hour. I've got a date tonight and I intend to be done with this beforehand."
"What the fuck?! Is this because of that stupid kidnapping mission? Are you still mad about that?"
"...Maybe." There is the sound of Robins snickering. "At Least this won't be boring!"
"And if it is?"
"Then I'll take you out on a date! Clock's ticking and my intel on his last whereabouts wasn't that fresh. And try not to look so...you."
"I'll send flowers to your girlfriend, Mask." Robin says with a smirk.
Victor finished preparing to head out. They would need to take his car and he had to go with the minimal mask simply for audio feedback from Oracle. He started his search at Riley's gym and would meet up with Red Hood there. Regardless of the intel explaining that Riley left some time ago there was always the possibility that he returned. The fact that the gym was empty in the middle of the day was alarming. Red circled back to Victor's car dressed in all black with a white version of his minimalist mask. "The hell is everyone?" he asked while peering into the window one last time in the off chance their technology was being blocked.
"That's what I'd like to fucking know. I was expecting him to not be here, not this place being a ghost town." The information he received may still be fresh after all. The rest of the neighborhood is bustling as always but there were far less of Riley's enforcers. The fact that Victor could even get close to the door was proof this spot was essentially abandoned. Red and Victor traveled separately to cover more ground looking for Sean Riley. Normally Victor would be concerned with his targets knowing he was hunting them but given that the man apparently developed a fear of him showing his face often and letting people know may get Riley to go on the run.
The usual places were swept through. Pool halls, bars and other gyms that were still thriving. Not even his mistress has seen him. Victor moved through the front and Red scoped out the back. No runners or even disgruntled people wanting Riley ousted. Not a soul seemed to know where he was. The information from the one lead Victor could get led them to a bakery. By the time they arrived word got around that the families' mad dog was looking for someone.
The employees behind the counter were weary of his very presence. Victor took out a picture of Riley with some random sexworker they got out of Ibanescu's safe and showed it to them. "Anything you've got on this man would be appreciated," he said with a bored expression on his face. The employees exchanged looks then looked towards the back. A face quickly ducked away from the window in the swinging doors and scrambling was heard. Victor sighs, and heads through the kitchen.
"Got 'em!" came Red's voice through the mask's earpiece. Out back a baker was having a hard time getting out of the grip Red had on his whole face with one hand.
Once outside Victor was cleaning the corner of his mouth of crumbs, having pilfered a snack on his way through. "Well don't crush his head, you gorilla!" he snaps. "At least not yet." Red grunts but keeps a hold of the man now panicking. "Tell us where Riley is so we can be on our way. Timeliness is key to your survival."
"I...I AHHH!" Red began squeezing his face. "I'll tell you everything I know!" Victor arched a brow. People really break too easily in his opinion but maybe Riley wasn't greasing enough palms to keep their lips sealed? The address they were given was just a few blocks over. A quick scan showed that it was an ordinary apartment building but below was very curious. They couldn't see into the basement of one room in particular.
"Do you recognize this place at all?" Red turned towards Victor. He shrugged. "I assume your many years of curb stomping have blessed you with a wealth of knowledge."
"I'm not that fucking old," he scoffs. "Let's flush this idiot out and be done with this. I want to hit up that bakery before it closes." They went through a check of their gear, bean bag rounds for their shotguns, both carrying a dose of nerve toxin through a heavy injector and rubber bullets. All of these things would be lethal in close quarters when dealing with the average person. They were not anticipating anything about this to be normal.
"Told you to grab something before we left but no! Don't eat on the job," Victor mocks. "I'm running point on this. I'd like him to come out swinging so we can skip the surprise when he roids out." They moved through the ground floor of the apartment and sought out the stairs that lead into the basement.
"I'm not big on waiting for him to monologue either. He's lucky he's getting taken alive. Two doses of the toxin will drop him permanently." As the door to the basement opened Victor's mask shifted to enclose as much of his face as it could.
"What the fuck?!" Fear toxin detected! The mask's filtration system will be enough for the amount that is drifting through the wide storage room clearly turned into a community space. "In the air? What about the fuckin patches?"
"This can't be good."
Victor turned off the voice modulation on the mask and had to settle with just speaking to Riley to provoke him. "Riley! I have been hauling my ass all over town looking for you! Get your pants on, it's time to go." Within this room they could scan and pick up on heat signatures beyond one last door at the back end of the room. Movement just beyond that door and both men were at the ready. "Come on man, I've got shit I want to do. The last thing on my list was dealing with your pathetic ass hiding in a hole." Heartbeat accelerating, increase in body temperature. Victor keeps control of his breathing as the toxin levels increase the closer they get to this one room. "I guess I'll have to pay Peyton a visit and let her know in person her dad's a little!" Red and Victor jumped back as the door burst open, swung hard and exploded off its hinges.
"YOU STAY AWAY FROM HER YOU MONSTER!" Sean Riley roared. He was unshaven wearing clothes tearing at the seams and more toxin spilled out from behind him. An already large man was now massive and barely fit through the door as he charged out.
Victor watched as he swung at Red Hood first. The amount of ground he covered seemed impossible. Red barely avoided a downward punch and Riley's fist collided with the floor before he was back up and swinging with the terrifying expertise of the fighter they knew he was. "Woah hey! What happened to being afraid of me?" Victor said as he readied his shotgun. The drugged man paused and looked towards Victor with genuine terror in his eyes.
"There's...there's two of ya now?!"
"I am insulted! I am not that pale!" Riley lunged and Victor back peddled until he could dart around to avoid getting grabbed. "Fucking shit!"
"The toxin is fucking with his brain," Red replied with Victor's voice.
"God, not this weird shit AGAIN!" Dodging was all Victor could manage while remaining on his feet. One moment to ready a weapon and he was going to feel the full force of the beast Riley turned into. Red popped off a few shots of rubber bullets into Riley's side and got the reaction he was expecting. Nothing. "Try something heavier!" Victor kept both of them on the move in circles so he wasn't backed against a wall. A shotgun blast went off twice and Riley stopped to turn towards Red. On his back Victor could see where the beanbag rounds hit at what would have been a life threatening distance leaving fist sized bruises.
Riley charged at the man and Victor took this time to put his shotgun away and take out his combat knife. He needed to be brought in alive. Whether he could still walk was going to be something his employer would have to live with. It was Red's turn now to be on the defensive. He wasn't as fast as Victor and had to block more than anything. As a fist swung past his face he spotted where the patches were slammed, just along his left shoulder. Four of them! How was he still lucid enough to talk?! "Any time now!" Red called out to Victor.
He came in low to go for an achilles tendon. Riley shifted towards him fast and slammed his shin into Victor's stomach, lifting the man and sending him flying to the right across the room. He had the wind knocked out of him but would recover in time to see the rampaging man charging yet again. He couldn't settle on which Victor he wanted to get rid of first. Red managed to get close and ripped off one of the patches only to receive a right hook into his stomach that lifted him off his feet.
Victor slammed his blade into the man's foot and rolled to bounce back to his feet while Riley roared at not being able to reach him apparently! The knife was ripped out and hurled at Victor. Not Riley's expertise! It was easily avoided, snatched out of the air and at the ready. Going low was going to be the play. "What's wrong Riley? Don't like the thought of me with your daughter?" Victor asked with a cackling laugh. Rage! It was amusing to see the man swap between being afraid of Victor and having such hatred for him where his daughter was concerned. Just keep dodging and stay ahead of a man who's swings cracked the concrete and brick walls.
"Do you think she can handle both of us at once?" Red Victor posed and Riley whipped around to tackle him through a support! He had to act fast! Two more patches were removed before he was on the defensive.
"I've heard she's quite the pro. Two of us might not be enough for her!" yelled Victor from across the room and ready for another charge. Red yanked the toxin gun out and slammed it into Riley's leg to inject him as he turned to glare at Victor. Full injection.
Riley rose slowly to his feet. Was it not working?! A second dosage might kill him and there would be hell to pay if Victor took down a member of the underground the mobs actually wanted to keep around. "You're a right piece of shite. My Peyton is a saint and..." He paused, tried to shake off something that was coming over him then collapsed as his muscles seized up. He twitched and curled in on himself, wide eyed and properly terrified now. "Ssstay!" His eyes rolled back and he was out.
"God good!" Victor roared then crouched beside Riley to ensure he was still breathing. Due to the nature of the patches removing them meant they worked out of his system faster. Leaving the one on him may be for the best while they transport him. Red Hood made towards the room Riley was holed up in to see cigarette butts littering the floor, a solitary mattress and take away bags from various establishments within a few blocks including the bakery they visited.
Red picked up one of the used cigarettes and then took up a pack that had two more left inside. "There isn't enough fear toxin in those patches to make him this paranoid without him turning into a rage blind monster."
Red held out the used cigarettes then pocketed them to be analyzed. "Someone laced his smokes?" Victor asked while checking Riley once more then preparing to move him.
"There's a possibility!" Red grunted while helping Victor move the unconscious man. "It had to have been someone close to him though!"
"It'll be real fucked up if it was his wife. She's the one that paid me to find him!" Victor huffs. "Why is this fucker so heavy?" The amount of muscle he put on from the patches was still taking time to fade away.
"Really? She wanted this piece of work brought home that badly?"
"He can't be in the doghouse if he never goes home!" Victor paused at the journey they would have to make to the car. "Right...stairs. Well, no point in bitchen." It took some time but they managed to get Riley out of the basement and into Victor's trunk. "Now he fucking shrinks?!" Victor slammed the trunk shut and rolled his shoulders.
"I do not envy the old man for having to deal with this shit back in the day," Red sighed. "Get your bounty. I need to clear the fear toxin out of the basement before some poor kid inhales it and thinks his mom is going to eat his face." A quick run of the sprinkler system should be enough. Victor waved off Red then took Riley home to his wife. The woman was not pleased at the state he was in but expected far worse. The men that came to her concerned for their boss helped remove him from the trunk. Mrs. Riley was surprised Victor held off on killing him. Again, ancient history that was dealt with. His next destination was home to get ready for tonight and investigate the damage he sustained from Riley's afternoon of rage and dread.
They are finally going dancing! Olivia spent an hour crafting her outfit, taking into consideration the weather, how long they may be out and the movement it allowed. She was ready! It wasn't just a chance for them to be out together but also for Olivia to try adjusting her influence. A meta-human club was bound to have one sneaking around! "See what you can do," is what Dr Slyvia suggested. Learning how far she can reach may help her in understanding what it means to be a monarch and she can release Arthur from the hold she's had over him without intending it.
Victor was okay with this so long as he got the time he knew they were going to be lacking in the coming week. The party and parade were approaching and there would be no time to breathe until what was expected to happen passes. He was half working tonight. If something big the others could not handle or something that needed to be dealt with in a less than savory manner came up he would take care of it. For everything else they were on their own. The muscle car was left in the private parking behind the club and the couple entered through the back, avoiding a long line. Olivia had to be reassured that this was fine. She had a spike in recognition after the photos shared from Gotham High's homecoming game. Her promotion of the coming party didn't help her going unnoticed either.
The dance floor was the first thing they saw as they pushed through a second door and the air was electric. It had to have been like this the first time she was here and now that she was in a better headspace she could fully enjoy it. Victor kept their fingers laced as he led them through the crowd. The only time he stopped was for brief introductions to the staff. The third floor VIP section was their destination. Just far enough away to give Olivia time to acclimate to the crowd's energy.
Victor was the first to relax and pulled Olivia into his lap. "I'm surprised you're actually taking it easy," she said with a smile.
"Getting in and out of work mode is easier than you think. They know I'm here and that's all they need," he explains. With how he's dressed she has to believe him. He was actually wearing a bit of color, a dark green shirt with an asymmetric design in black. His many rings made an appearance and a lovely watch as well. "You ready to try this out?" he asked to distract her from fidgeting with her bracelet.
She inhaled, released a bit of energy through her hair and nodded. "Yeah, I think I am. I can already feel a few close by." He kissed her hand. Still so much nervous static.
"Walk me through what you're going to do," he says while tipping her chin to gaze into her eyes.
"Right, um. I'm going to try to gently persuade them to come up here. Gotta stay calm. If I get anxious they might too. Just going to meet them, ask what kind of fae they might be and then let them go back to whatever." She would focus on just the club and 'call' to them. No words can be exchanged, just feelings. Olivia must keep her own in check. Feeling one fae approaching she sought out Victor's hand. He gently laced their fingers and waited.
Yazmine peeked into the private section with her drink tray clutched to her chest. Her hair was lit as always while working and eyes coal black. Victor perked up and looked at Olivia. "Is she?" Olivia nodded fervently. "Yazmine, come sit down real quick." He gave a pat to the couch beside them then shifted how he held onto Olivia. It wasn't the intention that she could sit higher than everyone but all the better for a monarch right?
"Oh um..." She would nod and step past the rope. She was meek! While a sweet woman her personality usually matched the fire she wields; warm and passionate. Once beside the couple she looked at Olivia in awe and Liv did the same.
"I love your hair," Olivia said with her eyes lighting up.
"Thank you! I...are you a monarch?" Yazmine asked in a whisper. As if someone else would be around to hear and tell who exactly?
"I guess I am?" Olivia said with a shrug.
"Well that's crazy! Everyone was curious when we'd get to meet Zsasz's girlfriend. Finding out your fae is wild!"
"This is all a bit new for me. Um, thank you for coming up here."
"Gosh, you're cute. Zsasz is going to be in trouble when he breaks your heart. You'll have a whole army of us coming for his head," she laughed. Victor narrowed his eyes. "I should get back to work. Lovely meeting you Miss Wayne!" Olivia waved and Yazmine was off feeling more herself after the interaction.
Before Olivia and Victor could discuss the results a young man in popular street fashion is standing by the rope looking anxious. He looks at the pair and gives a weak chuckle. "I think I'm lost?" he says while scratching the back of his neck.
Olivia shakes her head then would pat the couch like Victor did. "No no, you can come in." She was inspecting him once he sat down and could feel that he was nervous.
"Down, girl. You're making him sweat," Victor teased. Olivia cringed and sat back up.
"You...you're where the call is coming from right?" he asked. She nods. "A monarch!? I didn't think anyone was strong enough to be one in Gotham." He seems excited and is starting to relax more.
"Can I ask what kind you are?" Oasis was a space for meta-humans to be themselves after all.
He beams and sprouts rabbit ears. In an instant those were gone and long horns sprouted from his forehead. "Humans call us puca. I'm only a fourth so I can't change my whole body. Did we get lucky with a pretty monarch or what?"
"Gorgeous fits better," a man's voice came from the rope. He was dressed very casual, hands jammed in his pockets and pale green eyes contrasting with his almond colored skin. "Collecting yourself a harem, Miss Monarch?"
Olivia put out a bit of static through her hair and the man quickly bowed his head. "My bad! Didn't mean to offend you." Victor smirked. She was flexing now. Mr. Puca was feeling unhumbled while this man was cowering.
"Come sit," Olivia said, pointing towards a chair. He quickly fumbled with the rope and took his seat. "I don't plan on doing this alot I just need to learn more about what I'm capable of." Why couldn't dealing with other boys be this easy?! Is this the intimidating aura Damian got to enjoy?
The Puca gave a weak smile and got up. "I should get back. Lovely meeting you." He could finally pull his attention elsewhere and pointed at Victor. "Don't you work here?"
"Not on the clock," he replies in a relaxed manner.
"Got it! You two have a good night." He walked by the new arrival and gave him a pat on the shoulder. "Good luck!"
Olivia kept her eyes on this new man. He seemed about the same age as Victor. "Look at me." He snapped his eyes up and looked terrified. "Please don't assume such nasty things again."
"Yes ma'am." Victor was witnessing his little marshmallow exert a pressure he was apparently immune to and it was alluring.
Olivia's expression softened back up and she smiled bright. The man relaxed and felt he could breathe again. "Are you comfortable with telling me the kind of fae you are?" she asks in her usual tone.
"Would you believe I'm a type of siren?" he nervously laughs. "Half on my mother's side. Nothing shady there by the way."
"So you don't use your abilities like that?" He opened his mouth, closed it and looked off. Victor snorts. Two charm blessed fae in one city could be trouble. "Then you will not be doing that again. Self defense only."
"Yes ma'am," he said in a weak voice.
"Thank you. You can go now. Enjoy the rest of your night." Olivia waved him off and it would seem that was the end of the fae parade. She relaxed this newly discovered muscle and leaned into Victor. "That was more than I was expecting!"
"Heh, happy you know more are out there?" he asked before pulling her in close to kiss her neck.
"Very...More than I thought I would," she says while looking out across the club. "I was thrilled when I was finally aware of Arthur and meeting so many back to back was just as exciting! I need to tell him how it went."
"Mm, back on speaking terms with him?"
"He's been punished enough." Olivia is excitedly typing away at her phone. Once done it was stuffed into the pocket she sewed into her flowy skirt. "I'm ready to go downstairs now!" There was a new light in her eyes and Victor was beyond ecstatic to lead the way to the dance floor.
Victor was raised in places like this and felt most at home in spite of the nature everyone assumed he had. Plenty of employees have seen him at his most relaxed...or as close as he got to that back then. It was that image in their minds that made him all the more terrifying. When he turned on it was like walking from a warm fire to a frozen tundra. The music and the energy from the crowd soothes him. Olivia always at his fingertips brings a calm to his mind and he slips into a world where they are the only ones within.
Olivia smiled bright, bouncing and dancing with him. She laughs as he spins her then pulls her close. Seeing Victor enjoy himself so much made her heart soar. She wanted to see him like this often and dance with him more. Moments like these were the ones she loved the most. Even more than their more passion fueled ones. She's glowing with what Victor found to be inviting static. He wrapped his arms around her and held her close for a deep kiss. The energy around them seems contagious as they dance for what feels like hours, stopping only for drinks or to slip off somewhere out of sight just for a quick moment alone.
It's getting late at least for Olivia but she and Victor are having too much fun. They return to the VIP section to have a drink and chat a bit with Branagh who finally got time away from his desk. Olivia is trying to convince the two men to let her try rum for the first time and they are both pushing back on that. "Absolutely not!" Branagh laughs and knocks back his own shot. "There would be hell to pay for sure."
"You let Victor drink!" she huffs. "And I've had champagne before."
"A few sips of bubbly at a holiday party is nothing compared to real liquor," Victor adds, then sips his beer. He was keeping it light for the night. "Besides, I've been drinking since I was like...fourteen?"
"That makes you sound like an alcoholic," Olivia grunts.
"Mm, just a bit. We're also in too deep with serving him," Branagh laughs.
"Everyone assumes I'm way older than I am. First of all, ouch, and second. That's a them problem for not asking." Olivia crossed her arms and let a few sparks off through her hair.
"I've had children, tantrums don't work on me, girlie," Branagh snickers. Olivia continues to pout but giggles as Victor laughs.
"It's time I get you home anyway. We are way past late now." That pout was back but she got to her feet and readied to leave.
"Pleasure finally meeting you, Miss Wayne. Zsasz." Raymond nods then heads back out to work.
Victor leads Olivia out the same way they came in only to be ambushed by her once they are at his car. Up on her toes and kissing him repeatedly across his face. "Thank you for tonight," she says with a bright smile.
Victor narrowed his eyes. "You're still going home." She huffs and stomps over to get in the car. What's one very late night? Her dad couldn't possibly get that mad at her!