Getting Ahead [Open]

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“And welcome back to Gotham Live, I’m your host Summer Gleeson – and tonight we unfortunately do not have any guests with us – simply because the Mayor’s office refuses to make any comments on the matter introduced in the beginning of the hour. For those of you who are only just joining us, you can catch up now and be sure to catch up on any details you missed at our website: Gothamlive.com.” She paused appropriately, her wide smile faltering as she turned too returned to a more serious matter. “As many might have noticed, the recent and large amount of land purchased by our city’s government can be quite alarming. And what only seemed to add to the unusual motion was their efforts to hide it. However, thanks to the Freedom of Information Act, the documents have been released and will be featured to the left of the screen.” A tiny box appeared to the left of the pretty, young reporters head displaying each document. “Of course once again, for a better look at these they are also displayed on our website. But allow me to sum them up for you.”  

The talk show host crossed one of her long legs over the other, addressing a different camera at an angle that she just loved. The lights were shining down on her and though she didn’t have to share her spotlight this evening, she knew that regardless the news was indeed the real highlight of the story today. “A majority of this questioning purchases have taken place in antique, southeast part of Gotham. Locations including Amusement Mile...” For once she managed to say it without cringing, perhaps it was because part of her was almost glad to see the place might be going. “…..Park Row and numerous of other crumbling historical landmarks such as the Gotham City Opera House.”  

Lacing her fingers across the surface of her glass desk (yes, Summer Gleeson had herself perched behind a clear, glass desk because, of course, she wanted to show off how her long legs looked in pencil skirts). “A purchase so large would only suggest that City Hall has a large project underway for this sector of our city, but why are they keeping us in the dark? A large number of the city’s population – over 1 million citizens live in said district and many more are to be effected by such a change. For the past several months, owners of buildings and land in the South East sector have been selling their locations to the mysterious cause but are either contractually or unwilling to speak about it. While a majority of the locations in the area are owned by household names such as the Falcone family who seemed to have displayed a willingness to negotiate, others are outraged, claiming that the city is not providing them with enough money for their homes and businesses. Many are actually living in fear, afraid that the government might actually force them out of their homes – however, at this moment no force has been taken. A complete list of locations affected can also be accessed on our website and are flashing at the bottom of the screen.” 

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And that is when it came to her….it was only a matter of time before actions were taken and someone needed to be there. After all, various individuals were still living in homes that had been rightfully purchased. How would the previous owners of those buildings – or even the government go about removing them? She didn’t need to make a stand at the time – no, she didn’t seem to have the best of luck. However, it had been a while since she had taken her trusty Nikon out of its case. Only minoring in photography, she still felt as though her efforts might be appreciated. Who knew? Maybe she would win herself an Emmy? Typically she would send a lowly intern out on such a task, but the adrenaline pumping through her veins was not going to allow her to sit behind her comfy glass desk and wait for the next story. No, she needed to be a part of it. She made preparations after her show had concluded and she had made a quick stop home to change clothes. The ravishing redhead had learned her lesson about wearing stilettos last time. Once again, Summer Gleeson returned to the South East Sector of Gotham, looking for trouble.  

It was such a large area of town, she was unsure where she might start. She knew to avoid Amusement Mile based on her traumatic experience in the past. Parts of the old Gotham that had been rebuilt on the ‘nicer’ side of the city surely wouldn’t be a hot spot of her evening either. Summer continued to drive around the area in a car that looked very out of place considering the status of the city. When she approached a row of run-down apartments with a series of Escalades in front of them, she parked a distance away. The scene itself was unusual as she found the vehicles as out of place as she was. The noisy, Stacked Deck wasn’t far off. She could hear the shouts and laughs from inside of her car. Why hadn’t she gotten out yet? Surely there was something here, one story or another. Fear ceased up inside of her. The ambitious anchor couldn’t have a repeat of her last few encounters, what if she was only setting herself up for failure?  

Summer took a deep breath, attempting to dismiss her thoughts as she stayed in the comfort of her locked car. Raising the camera to her face, she zoomed in on the license plates and snapped a photo of each of them. That was a start.  

[OOC: Join me? I am up for anything. I want to try to lure the new people into posting with me. I don't bite, but my other characters do. ;D Anyway, I didn't want this to be just a regular news cast thing, but I needed to mark my Media territory. So let's play]

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Everyone who came from Gotham talked a big game. Everyone. It was like Gotham made people rough and hard, but living here for a few weeks in possibly the worst neighborhood, Mark Mardon wasn’t impressed. He expected to be mugged a little more, and expected more cops, but if anything, the pollution is what made this place worse than Keystone and Central; otherwise, this place was simply easier than dealing with the fastest man alive. Gotham wasn’t so bad, and it’s not like anything was in the water.

Walking out from The Stacked Deck, he clutched a case of beer in one hand, and several loaves of bread in the other. Mark had been living with his life long friend and partner in crime, Leonard Snart, most notably known as Captain Cold. He promised Len—since he had been practically living at his warehouse for free—that he’d come back with a case and something to put the ham and cheese on that was sitting in his fridge. It was simply something to pass the time, as they stole wifi from the family next door and Netflixed all nine seasons of Friends.

Dressed with a heavy rain coat, not because it was raining, but only to house his Weather Wand, Mark trotted past several parked cars, taxis and SUV’s, briefly looking inside to see if there was anything good inside. It wasn’t like he was going to steal anything, or even planning on stealing anything, but he wanted an iPad. If a car had an iPad in it, he was going to have an iPad. Interestingly enough, he began passing several Cadillac Escalades, they didn’t have any men inside it, but across the street there was a 2009 Porsche Cayman, with a woman inside taking photographs with a DSLR. The Weather based villain kept walking like it was nothing, pretending like he didn’t see her. It was strange to see beaten up Hyundai’s and Toyota’s only to walk into high end motor vehicles.

Mardon kept walking and when he was out of the redhead’s field of view and crossed the street. Creeping up behind her—purely out of curiosity of the odd situation—Mark bent over to the small coupe and set his case of beer down to knock on her window.

”What do you think you’re doing?” The dark haired man asked through the window. Not being from Gotham, he didn’t recognize the TV host, and didn’t care how important she was; he was merely speaking out of curiosity, knowing that—despite being a murderous thief—Mark wasn’t one to invade someone’s privacy. Nor, was he indifferent from talking with a pretty lady.

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Summer continued to click away from behind the lens. Even with the tinted windows, she could tell that the cars were empty which only caused her curiosity to grow with every increasing moment. The shouting and hollering from the Stacked Deck in the distance caused her to roll her green eyes. The one time she had even entered the establishment was strictly for business and she couldn’t wait to leave. Glancing back behind her, she turned her car back on but left it in park. Though she was considering parking somewhere else it was hard to deny the amazing angle she had from her current location. Adjusting the dial on the top of the camera she then zoomed in and began to scan the many windows of the building in hopes that she found something worth her time and efforts.

As she was scanning the top line of windows, she hardly noticed that a man was approaching her vehicle. Clearly caught off-guard, and audible scream flew from her lips as she looked up from the camera. Her heartrate escaladed as she looked out the window of her tiny car. Summer practically tossed her rather expensive camera into the passenger seat. Despite the fact that her car was locked, she clicked the button again and the car made an audible noise signaling that she had. “Goodness, you startled me". Summer admitted, ignoring his question. Placing her hand over her beating heart, she forced the fake white smile that had perfected over her years of being on air.

Summer cracked her window several inches. After all, it was a bad side of town and she’s had enough unwanted encounters to last her a lifetime over the course of the last few months. While she could pull away, a ‘thud’ was quick to follow his surprise as he sat his beer down. “What was that?” She asked, clearly more concerned about her vehicle as she rose up to peer out the window. When her gaze finally returned to the man outside her window, she was quick to notice the interesting attire that he was sporting. A rain coat? Summer’s eyebrow rose. She certainly didn’t think Gotham was expecting any rain, and she worked for the largest News Studio in Gotham.

Still avoiding his question, she didn’t need to tell him what she was doing. It was none of his business. Running her hand through her long, red waves she pushed her hair out of her face before looking back up at him. “I’m sorry, am I in your parking spot or something?” The ambitious young woman asked, curious to see if there was a reasoning for his confrontation.

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Mark smirked, giving her a sort of charming smile but bent over to pick up the twenty-four case of Yuengling, “It’s just beer, lady. You want one?” he asked in an almost vein hope that he’d get her drunk enough that he’d have to drive her back to her place, where ever it may be, and they could get cozy in a bed together. That was until Mark slapped himself out of that sexual trance, his mind’s eye guiding his internal thoughts. The villain was still unsure of what this lady was doing in such a bad part of town, he would know after all, she didn’t fit. Not the way she was dressed, the kind of car she drove, not even the quality of camera she so feebly attempted to hide.

Mardon bent over to be with eye level with the lovely young lady, and he cocked his head, still smiling, “No,” he responded politely to her question, “I don’t have a car in this city. Just visiting a friend I’m afraid. I’m kind of new in town.” He said beaming at her, “Though, if you’re a private eye, I don’t think you’re doing such a good job at the spying part. I can still see your camera, and it’s generally not a good idea to do such a dangerous job in a bad neighborhood. You should consider some form of protection. Unless... you're into voyeurism or something like that.” Mark suggested, even looking to both of his sides to make sure no one was going to come up behind him.

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She peered through the small opening as he leaned over to retrieve whatever it had been that he set beside him. Summer couldn’t help but smile in return to his mischievous smirk and his offer. Summer rarely drank. In fact, her only instances seemed to be when Selina was around now that she really thought about it. Still, beer was something she had never taken the time to sample. The smell and look alone repulsed her and a great deal of the events that she attended didn’t even serve the substance, despite the better qualities that were available in Gotham. “Oh, no thanks.” She said with a bit of a giggle. “I don’t drink beer. I don’t think I would like it too much. And of course, I'm driving.”

Turning her car off so that she could hear him better, she nodded as he was so quick to inform her of his recent placement in the city. “I see, well, welcome to the city. There are much better parts than this one, I promise.” Summer teased. It was the truth, this honestly had to be the worst section of the large city. The redheaded reporter almost had to refrain from another girlish giggle with his next comment. It was clear he had no idea who she was and while that was uncommon, it was also pretty refreshing. “No- I’m certainly not a private eye.” Is that even a thing? “I wasn’t exactly trying to hide either if I am being honest. My name is Summer Gleeson and I’m the host of a show called Gotham Live. I needed to get out of the studio a bit and was getting some shots for my show tomorrow.” And an Emmy.

She nodded in the direction of the escalades and the building. “That was a plot of land that was recently purchased by the city, so I just thought the whole scene was a bit unusual.” Summer tried to play it off as an innocent observation that she was only harmlessly taking pictures of. After all, he could be the owner of one of the vehicles himself and decided to see what it was she was up too. The redhead wanted to cover her tracks.

“I don’t necessarily think I am in any danger. I’ve got half of the GCPD on speed dial if anything were to happen, but thanks for the concern.” She managed politely, her face scrunched with confusion at his ending comment. “Voyeurism? I’m not exactly sure that that is…” The redhead replied, unsure if she really wanted to.

outfit: click to see

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The yellow clad villain shrugged his shoulders at the mention that she didn’t drink beer; it was more of a masculine beverage compared to the Vodka Cranberries that he would normally buy a one night stand. Though he knew several women who could drink him under the table in the past, it was always constants and variables with women. To her welcome to the city, he nodded, nearly bowed, “Why thank you,” Mark noted in the tone of her voice and decided he was going to make a quick move and pull back before she could realize if it was a joke or not, “is that an invitation or do I just have a lot of wishful thinking?” It was subtle, but always effective. He couldn’t help it, Mark Mardon was a flirt. The rain coat didn’t help his case, it wasn’t often a stranger picks anyone up wearing a yellow rain coat: much less a yellow raincoat that was hiding a powerful wand that controlled the weather.

Mark listened to her speak, listened to what she did like it was the most interesting thing anyone could say, he appropriately nodded at her explanations and smiled at the mention of her name. It was probably a jerk reaction, but it looked like an honest smile. “Mardon, Mark Mardon.” He introduced himself, not wanting to extend his hand, since her window was more drawn up than it was down. “I’m going to have to check out your show sometime. But don’t cities usually buy land all the time? What makes this part of town interesting?” Mark asked in genuine interest, “Does it have to do with all those Cadillac’s along this street?”

“If you don’t think you’re in danger, then why are your doors locked?” He asked pointing at the red lock position of her small car’s passenger side door. Mark thought it was odd that she didn’t know what voyeurism was, being in the business she was in. “Yeah, voyeurism. You know… like… well actually you know what? It’s not important.”

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A genuine and undeniable smile continue to pull at the corners of her mouth. Despite his ensemble, he was still pretty charming with a grin that rivaled her own. Her curiosity grew in regards to which relative that he might be visiting. While there were millions of individuals that resided in Gotham city itself, there was always the opportunity that she could know them. Honestly it didn’t’ really matter but she had already began to let her mind wander. Her green eyes focused back up to meet his gaze. “You are very welcome.” She replied pleasantly with a chuckle. “Where is it you are from?”

She couldn’t help but blush with his question. “Maybe just a bit of wishful thinking.” She replied with a flirtatious wink of her own. Summer peered up at the gray skies once more. Maybe there was a chance of rain after all. Surely she would feel terrible if he had to walk a far distance in such weather. Then again, he was a complete stranger. Feeling slightly guilty, she pursed her lips until the slipped back into a smile. “Where is it you are heading?” The redhead asked harmlessly.

Rolling her window down the rest of the way, she reached her arm out of the windows that she could properly shake his head. “It’s a pleasure.” The ravishing reporter replied politely. Summer turned her attention back to the scene several lots away. Her eyes scanned the building once more for any activity. She was easily distracted by the man at her window though there didn’t seem to be any differences in the scene. Ignoring all of his questions with a mischievous smirk of her own, she looked up at him once more with her bright green eyes. “You’ll just have to tune in tomorrow at 7p.m. on Channel 10 to find out, won’t you?” She teased. Despite how gullible the young woman tended to be, she knew better than to give away any leads. While he may not have been a journalist like herself, Summer wasn’t going to share.

The faint blush returned on her cheeks as she averted eyes contact only briefly. “Well not all of us can be as brave as you are, walking around on the bad side of town by yourself.” For once she was glad to revert the attention from herself. A loud chorus from the Stacked Deck grabbed her attention and she turned in her seat to see what might have been the cause of such a noise. As she turned slowly back around to face the stranger, it was hard to hide the annoyance on her face. “Oh my. They must be having a good time.” She attempted lightly, though in reality she couldn’t care less.

outfit: click to see

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“Oh, I live in Central City, but work in both Central and right across bridge in Keystone. The only problem for me is to decide which hockey team to root for.” Mark joked around lightly, unsure if the news reporter was even into sports; despite the likely fact that she most likely covered a sports story here or there. It seemed like what she was doing was more investigative reporting, though the thought of her doing something illegal and exposing it for her job, well… that was kind of hot.

Mardon was glad that, even if she rejected his initial advance, she still seemed to return a flirty wink. “I was afraid you were going to say that.” Mark’s voice didn’t have the tone of disappointment, rather a tone of jest. “I’m just going to head over to my friend’s warehouse to drop off this bread, but then I’m walking to Park Row. There’s supposed to be a big event going on in some auto shop, I hear.”

When the redhead rolled the window down, Mark took her hand, and instead of shaking it, bowed and kissed the top. “The pleasure is all mine.” He said, letting her hand slip out of his own. “I’ll be sure to tune in, if anything just to see you again.” Maybe she was right though, it could have been a little bit of too much wishful thinking; but if he never tried, he’d never even have the chance.

Mark was just about to keep the conversation going to see if he could end up in her car, but his constant glances upward to see if anyone was coming, a few people here and there, a hobo panhandling there. Those weren’t the people he was keeping an eye out for. The man in a black suit, glasses, and earpiece approaching them was. “Hey! What are you doing here?” the thug shouted at them. Mark stood upright from his bent position to face the man. “Free country.” Mark replied with fervent gusto. “Not you, her!” The thug angrily pointed at Summer.

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Summer had been to Central City a handful of times, often in pursuit of the vigilantes that seemed to reside there. Of course, she had gone for events and leisure as well. The reporter giggled at his comment. “Oh, I can imagine.” She smiled up at him. He was certainly good-looking, though she couldn’t get past his choice of attire. Besides, he was far from the type she often gravitated toward. Then again, her last romantic encounter was with a genius-level criminal. Maybe she didn’t really have much of a type anymore.

Despite her decline, he continued to speak with her – which was nice. It had been a while since she had managed at decent conversation with a complete stranger. It was hard to meet people in Gotham despite of the large population, mostly because it seemed too many had alternative motives. Though the naïve redhead continued the conversation she didn’t necessarily discount him as harmless. “Really? An event at an Auto Shop?"A confused look playing on the pretty redhead’s feature, she tried to fathom what kind of even would be hosted at such a venue. Then again, her idea of a venue was something on the lines of a ballroom or gallery.

“You definitely should.” She flirted back, biting her lower lip. Even if she wasn’t serious, she liked the attention. It was obvious that there wasn’t much that she wouldn’t do for it. Just as she opened to add something to her statement, she noticed the activity at the building before them. Swearing under her breath, the redhead began to fumble with her keys. She turned the car back on as the large man started toward them. Summer was in a rush and eager to avoid the trouble. Flashing a quick, white smile in the direction of the man who was lingering at her window, she put her car in what she thought was reverse.

“We’ll have to do this again sometime.” The redhead teased, glancing over her shoulder to ensure that she was clear to back out. Her stiletto finding the gas she pressed it forcefully and her car reacted in a way far from what she expected. Having accidently put her car in drive, the vehicle lurched forward and crashed into the round, cement base of a light post.

The airbags deployed almost instantly, packing a painful punch in the woman’s upper body. She slammed against the back of the seat as the wind was knocked out of her. Struggling to breathe, she fumbled for her seatbelt and removed it. Grabbing both her purse and the camera, Summer then forced her way out of the car. Completely mortified as she reached toward her head with her free hand, she examined the excessive damage.

Of course, that was the least of her concerns. Not only was her mistake both humiliating and going to cost her a great deal of money, the large man still bounded toward the couple with his speed increasing. The redhead looked panic. She wasn’t sure what to do. She glanced from the vehicle to the man approaching. Should she run?

outfit: click to see

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Mark took three steps back, and dropped the paper bag of bread, but held on his beer even tighter as the woman’s car charged forward and smashed into the cement post. He took quick action, glancing up to the man in the suit talking into his ear then pulling out his piece. It was a handgun, he couldn’t identify it, but it looked like a 9mm. The first order of business was to make sure that the redheaded reporter was okay; Mardon dropped his case and bent over to help her on her feet, but made sure she was low enough to be in cover from the thug’s gunfire. “Stay pressed against the car.” He instructed unzipping his raincoat, and pulling out a peculiar device in the shape of a wand.

The thug pressed against his earpiece, “There’s a damn reporter out here, Falcone. She’s been taking pictures, I need some back up. There’s some guy with her.” He spoke, having his firearm trained on the wreckage of the car. “Doesn’t look too tough, but just send someone else in case he’s packing.” The goon began to circle the car slowly, with both hands now on his pistol. He was cool, calm, and collected, but if he had any idea who he was dealing with, he should have been shaking in his boots.

The dark haired man pulled out a domino mask from the other side of his coat pocket, and placed it against his eyes. “You ever report on those masked heroes in Gotham before?” He asked as a rhetorical question, he was positive nearly every reporter in Gotham has done a piece on someone like that, “Well, I’m not one of those heroes.” He said standing up and pointing his wand at the thug, and fired a bolt of lighting at his chest. The Falcone gunman managed to squeeze off a round, but that was only because he was being fried and his hand clutched his gun for his dear life. The man dropped to his knees and fell to the floor, smoke billowing from his lifeless body.

Weather Wizard extended his hand to the downed reporter, “You okay?” He asked.

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Run – or the police? Each seemed nearly an impossible feat as she was struggling to find her breath. Had she really wrecked her car? The young redhead was almost frozen as she tried to make a solid decision. Running in heels was never going to get her very far but by the time the police managed to get here her situation could have already taken a turn for the worse. Her knight in yellow nylon seemed to have more of a composed perspective on the situation. Summer was shaking as she finally turned her attention away from her damaged car to the thug with a newfound gun. It was almost a reaction now to put her hands in the air and plead him not to shoot, but rather than doing so the redhead was completely numb as the man helped her to her feat.

Summer winced as the gun fired, covering her ears. She nodded as she positioned herself behind the car, using the vehicle as a shield. As lightheaded or ever, the slightly disheveled redhead managed to stay crouched in the awkward position. She clung onto her bag and her camera tightly. The events over the course of the next few moments were a bit of a newsworthy blur. The redhead watched with her face masked in surprise as Mark pulled a wand-like object out of his coat and a mask that covered the upper half of her face. In her right mind she might have stopped him. At first she was highly skeptical of the man – it would be her luck to run into some poor ex-inmate who ran around thinking he could cast spells. However, within seconds her assumptions had been eliminated.

His words repeated like a mantra in her head as she watched the scene unfold. A blinding bolt of electricity flew from the tip of his wand. Summer looked away, burring her face into the shoulder of her blazer. The smell of burnt, human flesh was quick to hit her nose. When she looked back she found that the thug was no longer standing, but immobile on the concrete. He had been electrocuted and the question didn’t have to even ask to confirm her fears.

Trembling, she struggled to her feet with her eyes wide. She tugged at the ends of her skirt that had crept upward on her thighs while she remained crouched behind the car. “I-I don’t know. I feel like I am either going to be sick or pass out.” Summer leaned up against the car so that she didn’t topple over then and there. The dizziness only multiplied when she gazed upon the man’s lifeless form. “Oh my gosh. This is not good.” She began to panic slightly. “I mean thank you, it was certainly chivalrous. Do you know who that is-er was? We need to get out of here. This isn’t happening.” She moved her hands to either side of her face. “You just killed him!” She exclaimed, her voice no higher than a whisper. Granted, it was someone who had recently tried to kill her- but still! Slightly hysterical, she looked in several directions before her eyes lingered from the eyes looking at her from behind the mask to the wand in his hand. “And what is that?” She asked, perplexed and terrified by the unusual device.

outfit: click to see

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The Central City Rogue wasn’t surprised at Summer’s reaction, although he stopped the assailant the only way he knew how. He only reviewed the man for a moment before turning back to address the redhead’s concerns. She was frightened, like she’s never seen anyone kill before. “You didn’t expect Batman to swoop in and save us, did you?” He asked, “I have no idea who he is; all I know is that guy had a gun pointed at us both, so I did what I had to.”

The smell of the piping human on the street was beginning to get to Mardon, it wasn’t pleasant, but what he did as a living, things rarely were. Though, the only thought running through his head was how much of a mood killer that was. He didn’t even get her number. “Listen, Summer. I don’t like labels. I’m whatever you want me to be, and right now, I think you’re right. That goon called in support. I can get us out of here if you just trust me.”

Mark held out his hand to invite her to get close to him. He held his wand up, and a furious wind began to whip around their feet, to the Weather Wizard, the wind was nothing, and he kept his eyes locked on Summer. The door across the street kicked open; several men in black suits came filing out, and began yelling at each other. Something like “He killed Vinnie, oh my god!” Something like that. Mardon wasn’t really paying attention to them.

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The lightheaded and dizzy feeling only seemed to multiply as she stood up. Her hands were trembling – actually, most of her girlish frame was. Her eyes kept trying to avert from both the murdered and the newfound murderer. “I just-“ She began with a shaky breath and at a pure loss of words. “I just didn’t think…oh my gosh, this is really happening.” She exclaimed once more, as her eyes managed to catch sight of the charred criminal less than a yard away.

Her palms covered both her mouth and noise as she did everything in her power not to scream. Despite how difficult it was to deal with the situation, she knew she needed to focus or she might be joining the corpse on the ground. It was hard to accept what was going on but she didn’t have the time to sit there and play out what to do in her head. The redhead scanned the area. Not only was she unfamiliar to this part of town, but she could only get so far on foot. She wasn’t sure what he had in mind to get them out of here, but at the moment she welcomed it. Swallowing her fear she nodded. “Okay, yes.” Eyes, pleading she took his hand.

Standing very close considering he was a complete stranger, she wrinkled her nose and her body was rigid with an obvious discomfort. Despite how charming he was, he was still the stranger on the slummy side of town running around with a magic wand and a raincoat. Attempting to keep a few inches away from him with that fact in mind – not to mention he had just murdered someone and continued to show no remorse. It wasn’t until the next weather related sensation generated from the movement of his wand that she eliminated the space between them. Wind whipped her hair and clothing causing a small squeal to peel from her lips. She unintentionally pressed herself closer and clutched her bag tightly against her side. “What’s happening? Where are we going?” Summer asked over the roar of the wind. Eyes squinting, she rose her arm to shield her eyes though it was impossible to see much of anything anyway.

outfit: click to see

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The sudden wind knocked the oncoming thugs on their feet, wind kept roaring around them. He fisted his wand and held it up in the air, “C’mon Summer,” Weather Wizard said politely, despite sparks and electricity dancing around his eyes and wand, “you knew you were heading into trouble when you decided to report in the lion’s den.” As the shaking redhead took his hand, he felt the need to explain that the electricity won’t hurt her. “Trust me, I won’t hurt you.”

The tall man brought Summer in close, even wrapping his arm around her waist, “We’re going up.” He smiled, having her press closely against him. As the Falcone goons were helping each other up, Weather Wizard and Summer began to lift off, the wind not ceasing, instead growing stronger and stronger, like a tornado around their feet, they took off into the air.

Flying high above the air now, the rooftops of the dirty city seemed like the were just squares on a checkerboard; the gust of wind kept them afloat and Weather Wizard took some time to just gaze upon the city. He always had a way to find beauty in dangerous and deadly things. Hurricanes had a certain beauty from far away, the intricate design of a handgun, and now the desolate rooftops of East Gotham.

There was a moment of pensive serenity, he took a deep breath and sighed, he took some time knowing that he just saved her, but that she probably had a lot of questions. She was a reporter, after all. ”Are you going to be okay? Want me to take you back to the station?”

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Despite how uninviting the sparks flying from his wand looked, she couldn’t believe that she had actually agreed to go with him. While it certainly seemed like the best option to go with the man who had helped save her life rather than the man who had tried to take it away, she didn’t trust his character. He promised not to harm her and that she could believe – or at least, she wanted to believe it regardless. A chorus of gunfire and shouting accompanied the wind that continued to whip her red hair and all directions.

Her frame fit nicely against his, even if it wasn’t like her to allow someone to get so physically close to her. The circumstances certainly spoke for themselves and at this point she clearly wasn’t about to do anything that might propel him to consider dropping her. As their feet left the ground, a tiny peel of shock and excitement left her lips. Whatever force was propelling them was doing so quite quickly, causing her to hold on even tighter to the man who had gone through the effort to save her.

She was at a loss for words as they coasted upward. The city seemed so small from their positon and it was unlike anything she had ever seen. Though the pretty redhead spent a fair amount of time falling, it was rare to experience the opposite. “This is incredible!” She finally managed, raising her voice over the wind. Unable to shake the smile that played on her lips, Summer had almost forgotten the severity of their situation as he asked her if she was okay. There were a couple of matters that would have to be addressed later, one of them being the fact that her car was totaled.

“Yes-I think so.” She said, mostly in attempt to reassure herself. Part of her almost didn’t want to go back to her safety of the station, though she wasn’t prepared to simply let this weird series of events go. “So, that wand…controls the weather? Or creates weather? Where did you get it?” The questions flew from her mouth before she could even attempt to catch them, her eyes wide and swimming with curiosity. However, there was something else on her mind. Tracing back to what he had said earlier, she couldn’t help but ask. “What did you mean when you said you were not a hero? You saved me, after all. Are you just incredibly modest or-“ She stopped herself, allowing him to fill in the blanks for her.

outfit: click to see