Picnic pest (Red X/Open)

[mm]

Blame it on the effect Gotham was having on her with all it's restrictions and enforcement of laws, some sensible and others not so much by the FBI, but whenever Mary made her magical transformation from Bromfield to Marvel the color of costume she turned up in depended on her mood at the time. The standard colors were either red or white. Today marked a striking contrast however as amid the clouds of Gotham in mid-afternoon a powerful form descended clad in neither of the aforementioned colors but in black. When the going gets tough the tough get going. When in Rome, do as the Romans do and a few other worn out cliches, Gotham was a jungle, survival of the fittest and if Mary Marvel was going to continue to endure she had to get tougher, not just physically but mentally. Her friend and teammates in Hawkgirl and even Batman were rubbing off on her.

5 minutes ago she exited KFC with a bucket of original recipe, container of mashed potatoes, a few dinner rolls and a large Pepsi, ducked into the alley where she was alone and unobserved as far as she could tell and uttered her magic word ever so quietly, triggering the change and flying up toward the highest of heights, picking a random rooftop to land on where she could not only eat her dinner in seclusion but also peer over the ledge at the streets below without being seen while she enjoyed her temporary lull in kicking criminal backside.

"And they have the nerve to call this finger lickin' good? Maybe I should have went to the Bell and ordered tacos instead." She dryly waxed sarcastic before nibbling on a wing.

[redx]

OOC: Not sure what she was wearing last time but I am going to go with white.

Glenn was minding his own businesses as his back was pushed up against the side wall of a chimney stack. It wasn't very hot, but was producing enough warm to aggravate Glenn and causing him to have to move every so often so that he could resuscitate his body to it. Glenn had just gotten off the phone with his father. He was telling him that he was "chosen by the Gotham schools to attend a special scientist class this up coming semester." He had to think of something after all, he had been gone for three days with out seeing his dad and didn't have a way out of the city at this time. So he was now staying in a local hotel thanks to his dad.

"I hate lying to my pops, but what else am I suppose to do? Hey dad, I a thief and got trapped in Gotham...can ya come and get me? I don't think that would bold well with him" he said with a chuckle that was then followed by a sigh.

Glenn's attention was then taken from him as he seen a bolt of lighting come crashing down earth. Lighting? But there isn't even a cloud out right now? he thought as his eyes ran over the sky and the only thing showing was the sunset. Standing up from his aggravating seat he pulled his mask down over his face and took off for the location.

After leaping from rooftop to rooftop he had finally reached the area that the lighting had hit, but it wasn't for another two minutes until his eyes landed on the girl before him dressed in all black. Mary?

Red X leaped down to the ledge that was about seven feet away from Mary's ledge. "Taco's probably would have been better to be honest. Oh, by the way, the black looks a lot better on ya." he said with an unseen smile. "So long time no see. How ya been?" In truth it was about three days since he last seen her. His first night in Gotham.

[mm]

Must have been something in the weather because by the time the second piece of chicken was in her hands the taste was beginning to grow on her/ Maybe she was hungrier than she thought but she rarely got hungry while in Marvel form. One of the many built in advantages to being a being of magic. The first bite of her second chicken piece had started to slide down her throat when she sat it down on a napkin, took a sip from her drink to wash it back with and reached for the mashed potatoes before hearing the intruding voice.

It could be equated to an artist sitting in front of an easel painting a masterpiece, about to put the finishing strokes on it and admire the beauty before being interrupted by a noise that caused their hand to jerk and smear paint, ruining the whole beautiful work of art. Mary felt surrounded by the beauty of a masterpiece, the handiwork of an invisible creator. The sky was serenely beautiful, the birds chirped and despite the chaos unfolding in the rest of the city no doubt, where Mary Marvel sat everything felt tranquil for a change...until HE arrived and shattered the moment.

"Better than you're about to be?" She hinted, not even lifting an eye to gaze in his direction. She didn't need to, she recognized the voice better than she would have liked. She'd only heard it on one previous occasion but she had a better memory than most.

"2 things." She mumbled with an irritated tone over her inability to enjoy a simple meal and get away from it all without being hounded by this...stalker for lack of a better description. "Your compliment is duly noted but I don't really need one from someone so ashamed of his own face he has to hide it behind a mask covered with an X, and two, you are still wanted by the authorities. Returning that headdress doesn't change the fact you are still a thief."

She couldn't deny that she found the praise he showered on her in their last encounter somewhat flattering but a thief was a thief. Bottom line. "Would it get me anywhere if I told you to go away?" She asked, rolling her eyes while dabbing her hands with a clean napkin, the black gloves that were part of her current costume laying beside her for the moment.

[redx]

Red X was perched on the ledge across from Mary Marvel. His knee's bent so that his butt could rest on the heels of his feet. His fore arms rested on his thighs while his lands dangled between his knee's. The sunset was just behind him, shining down like an ever glowing healing light. It made everything just seem alright.

"Oh?" he replied to Mary as she made her comment about how everything was going to be better than how he was about to feel. She never even looked up to acknowledge that it was him before her. He smiled at that thought that she still remembered him just from that one encounter. She really was super. Being able to remember his voice pattern just like that.

Red X's shoulders perked up when Mary started to mention two things. First was that she wouldn't take his complements fully since he was hiding behind a mask, and the other that he was still a thief. He wasn't sure what to say about the later one but there was always a solution to everything, sometimes they are just harder to find.

Red X thought that today he would lay off of Mary Marvel. She was just a hardworking hero trying to enjoy her meal, who was he to get on her nerves? After all she has saved the earth from time to time and he was a fan of the place so he thought that he should allow her the peace that she deserves every now and then.

"Ha! Ashamed of my face? I think not my lady. See, I have to hide my face cause well I don't want all the attention that it would bring. Once everyone found out who I was they would go start to Metro....um...central" he attempted to change the name of his home town in mid sentence. "and start questioning my father about me, and then all the baddies would be up there picking oh him....and well I am not Superman....I can't protect him from them..." he started out in a up right cheery tone but about half way though started to turn to a mixture of sad and anger.

"Ah, lets just not worry about the authorities. Tonight it's about me and you. Forget the world and lets just be happy for a moment! Haven't you earned the right to just kick back and enjoy your meal for once?" His tone quickly left that of the sad angered one as he was now in a much more cheerful mood to show the excitement in his voice.

Looking over his shoulder he noticed that the sun was almost at that perfect moment in it's sunset. A smile formed under his mask as he noticed this. "Beautiful isn't it?" He said while looking over his shoulder at the sun, then it hit him. Time to make for the perfect moment. The moment where time stands still for a moment. Red X turned to Mary and started to pull his mask off, but stopped at the bridge of his nose. His mouth, jaw line and nose was no longer hidden from Mary. A smile was eclipsed by the rays of the sun. He then leaped over to the ledge next to Mary, but from a respectable distance. "Lets take a moment to just enjoy the sunset. You earned it."

After about two minutes Mary asked if it would to any good to ask him to go away. He only snickered with his mask still up. "Only if you like giving yourself a sore throat." He then continued to watch the sunset as his legs dangled over the ledge.

[mm]

Gaaah! I give up. The heroine with the appearance of a 30 year old moaned under her breath, shaking her head in slight frustration. The thought of pushing him off the ledge was a bit tempting when he moved from across from her to squat on the same side she was on, albeit more than an arms length away. He had to know that if she wanted, she could cross that gap before he could even blink but she wasn't in the mood to argue with him. All she wanted was quiet time and enjoy a bucket of sub par chicken and side dishes.

If he was trying for sympathy when she spoke of protecting his father from bad guy types, the fact that he himself was one notwithstanding, it actually struck a chord in the champion of Shazam. She raised an eyebrow once more however when the words you and me came from his mouth. There is no me and you. For the love of god, why don't you leave me alone, man? She screamed inside her head. She wanted to voice her thoughts and tell him off but the words lodged in her throat and refused to budge.

What he did next however she was not in the least bit prepared for, he actually lifted up his mask and called her bluff. He went no further than his nose however but she certainly didn't expect what she got . And then she remembered how he had returned what he stole so there was something redeemable in him after all. On top of that it felt good to just have someone to talk to and forget about the rest of the world for a few moments. When this night was over it would be back to basics no doubt with her trying to catch him after another inevitable robbery, her paranoid side assumed but for now she found herself getting lost in the moment, the bright setting sun threatening to blind her in more ways than one.

"Yes it is very beautiful" She cracked only a slight smile, and then, for reasons she couldn't fathom, picked up the bucket and held it out in an offering for him to dip his hand inside. "Temporary truce. Have a piece. And I promise I won't bite if you want to scoot closer." She spoke and crossed her legs, studying the exposed portion of his face while she waited.

[redx]

His head tilted to the side when Mary mentioned the beauty of the sun to him. It really was a nice sight. It was kinda odd and out of place for Gotham, for everything to be silent and peaceful. It was almost as if everyone in Gotham was caught in a mesmerizing gaze. Then again he was sure that they all where since all the crimes in Gotham was done at night. So most likely everyone was watching the sun and waiting for it it to lower so that could start there business. Whatever the reason as least Mary was able to relax for a moment and that's what mattered really.

His gaze was broken as the bucket of chicken broke into his peripheral vision. Turning to it he noticed that he was being offered some, as well as being invited to come closer. Was this true? Was this sunset magical? He plucked a piece from it and gave a smile while scooting closer to Mary. After all he done knew that if she wanted to catch him she could, so what would an extra few inches, or a foot hurt?

Now eating on the chicken he turned back away from Mary.
"So I know your names Mary Marvel. I mean you're a superhero and all. So...I suppose it's only fair that you know my name is Red X" he then paused for a moment to finish eating. "So...You know that I have a father now. How about you? Who do you got?"

[mm]

Mary tilted her head when the Red X backed away again after taking a piece of chicken. What WAS he afraid of? If she were going to reach out and restrain him before dropping him into the lap of the police she would have already done so and frankly there would be nothing he could do about it. Not in her league. None of the villains in this city were. That isn't to say she still would make a fuss if he actually disappeared right now and let her be. All Mary Marvel wanted out of her life right now was to be left alone. Didn't she? No she didn't she was tired of being alone, wasn't she?

Her face sank slightly as she laid a chicken bone on the rooftop next to her, grabbed another napkin to wipe the grease off her fingers and buried her face anymore. She was suddenly not sure what she wanted.

"I kinda figured you had a father before you told me. Surprisingly enough I have one of those too. And a mother" She whispered dryly, still not turning to look at him, a somber expression still in place. "Surprisingly enough I have discovered that not having a father or mother complicates the whole process of being born."

She was really starting to hate this city at a rapid pace. Nothing makes sense here. There was little or no peace in her heart, not that she could expect such a thing from a place so crime infested as Gotham.Something inside was troubling at her. Gnawing at her like a cancer and she couldn't identify the symptoms. For the first time in her life, Mary found herself losing her identity. Not in a literal sense but she was starting to figuratively wonder who she really was, what her call was. Why was she having so many doubts about herself all at once?

And Red X? Why did he have to be so nice now after deliberately trying to infuriate her the last time they met. She had made up her mind now she wasn't going to arrest him but she couldn't stay here with him acting like everything was kosher. It was only complicating her judgment. "I have to go. Enjoy the food." She slowly stood without warning, looked into the distance. Part of her wanted to fly into the clouds and never look back. Ever. And part of her wished he'd take her by the shoulders and stop her, somehow make sense of her life again. When did everything get so crazy and why? She silently asked herself.

[redx]

Red X wasn't sure what it was but he could tell that Mary's attitude had changed all of the sudden. She had went from being an accepting angel to a snappy person. He figured that maybe he had touched a never or a soft spot so he would ignore it. "Yeah, but what I meant was that my father is still kicking as to where my mother well..." Red X paused for a moment of silence and then continued on. "Yeah with out those two you kinda end up being a robot....or a clone" he added with a shrug.

Turning to face Mary Marvel, Red X could tell that she was deep in thought. His eyes narrowed in on her as his head titled to the side. His lips then configured to the side of his mouth to show his confusion. "Mary is everything alrig-" But he was cut off as she stood up and spoke about having to leave.

Red X tossed the remaining amount of his food off the ledge and pulled his mask back down over his face. I suppose everything great has to come to an end. Red X stood up now standing behind Mary as she was looking up at the sky. She said that she had to go yet she was only standing there? "Mary? You said you had to leave......Yet you're still standing here." He looked around and then even leaned over to the side to try and listen to see if he heard anything, but nothing."I don't hear any trouble...Mary? What's wrong? You can talk to me."

[mm]

"You wouldn't understand and I don't know how to put it into words." Her lips moved slowly, her voice coming out in a barely audible whisper but one that Red X should still be able to hear. "I just have alot on my mind. I shouldn't even be having this conversation with you, you lousy criminal." She chuckled slightly for lack of a better reaction at her own insipid comment. She stood with her back to him, arms crossed but her feet still in the same spot after she had stood.

"And yet, I am shockingly glad you came along. I guess talking to a stranger can be more helpful than talking to the closest friend you have at the moment. She's from another planet. She's a good friend but I doubt she could understand what I am going through but you? The fact that you and I are relative strangers to one another and you still seem to care or pretend to care enough to ask me to pour my heart out is refreshing, Red X."

Mary Marvel was fearless almost always. Courage of Achilles, wisdom of Solomon and all that, yet for the first time she could ever remember her shoulders were trembling and there was a crack in her voice as she spoke again.

This city is wrecking me from the inside out, It's changing me and I am not sure I like what I feel myself morphing into. This city is like poison. I am not sure I know who I am anymore." She turned slowly on the heel of her black boots, looking into the eyes of his mask and letting her head fall against his chest a second, maybe two and then raised her eyes to look into his despite them still being covered by the mask. She couldn't believe what she was about to ask him. It scared her slightly, she never would have expected something like this to come from her lips but yet the feeling of adrenaline that shot up her spine, the tingling rush that rose when she thought about it, the itch to try something different and the corrupting tug she felt this city having on her made the moment too tempting to resist when she spoke again.

"Would...would you like to go rob something together?" She asked candidly. It might have sounded like a joke coming from someone with a reputation as heroic to a fault as hers but the look in her eyes as she whispered the question showed she was deathly serious.

[redx]

She was most likely right. He wouldn't understand what she was going through, but that doesn't mean that he wouldn't at least listen to her. It was harder for her to speak out to him since he was a criminal, but maybe that's what she needed. A complete stranger to be there for her. "Maybe I am a criminal...Or maybe I am a guy who just made a mistake and needs to correct it."

Ah, who was he kidding? He was thief when it was all side and done. Even last night he was having a competition with another thief, but maybe that line would help ease Mary a little more so he could hear her out.

Red X let out a sigh a small sigh as he seen that Mary was "refreshed" by his caring. It was a good start, better then her chasing him around and threatening to throw him in jail, now just to try and wiggle the rest out of her. His eyes looked up to Mary as she started speak in a crackly tone.

"That's an easy one Mary. You're a hero. You have saved people, cities, heck even the planet. You fight against people like Black Adam to protect others. You're a great person always willing to go the extra mile to help out. You're not as judgmental as most super hero's and willing to listen to others. Heck, you know I am a criminal and yet you didn't pick me up and strangle me when I showed up."

Red X stopped speaking once Mary's spin and then head plant struck him with in an instant. His eyes widen and his jaw dropped about half way. He wasn't sure what was going on but he just went with it as he wrapped his arms around Mary to hold her in her moment of weakness. Then she looked up into his eyes. This made Red X very nervous, but once he heard the question his jaw closed his his eyes narrowed. He wasn't sure as to what was going on, but he knew that it couldn't go down like this. He was a nobody, if he went bad and was stealing things it wouldn't matter, but if Mary...For goodness sake Mary Marvel. If she went evil what was the world coming to?

But then the temptation hit him. He thought about how much he could steal in one hour. With the power of Mary Marvel he could rob a bank....a big bank at that thought. He would be sent and wouldn't have to steal anymore, but what fun would that be? He would always wanna steal.

He shook his head from side to side as he pulled Mary closer to him. "To be honest Mary I would love to rob anything with you, but that's not you. Your not me. I am a low down criminal that does that stuff. You...You run around with people like Batman, Superman, and Captain Marvel...You fight Black Adam. I can't allow my greedy desire to drag you down. You save the world from time to time. People love you. If you rob something, in this town you're going to get caught with all the FBI running around. Not caught but seen and then your hero career is over. I can't let your ruin your life cause you're going through something Mary. It's just not worth it."

[mm]

"No. You're wrong about me, mister." And with that she lifted her arms and pulled away. Her face went cold with it's a expression, a smug look that bordered on sadistic was on her face when she looked back to him. "As far as I am concerned my so called hero career as you put it is already over." She stood defiantly and crossed her arms. Her feet lifted off the edge and she hovered in air slowly, drifting backwards.

"Saving people is just what I have been doing but it doesn't define me. It takes more than actions to make a person a hero. It's what I do but it's not who I am. I am tired of people telling me who I am and what I should be. I don't consider myself a hero outside of simple lip service and I am tired of other people telling me who I am and what their definition of what I should be is."

She gave him a sharp glare as her anger began a slow burn. Her voice started to sound more confident, signifying she was more sure of herself and more determined with every syllable that came from her mouth. "Things change. I've changed. It was coming before we had this conversation and if you won't help me then I'll find someone who will. Enjoy the chicken!" She muttered.

[redx]

Ok, so he was wrong about her apparently. It wouldn't be the first time that he was wrong about someone. There was that time with Billy Johnson. He thought that kid was a really nice guy but it turned out the was nothing but a school yard bully. Fifth grade was rough.

Red X took in a breath as he watched the Goddess take her place in the sky above the mortal man. A small smirk formed on his face as he listened to what she was saying. Then a simple nod followed. I suppose she isn't who I thought she was. Stupid X. Don't let your heart get caught up in things you can't understand.. Then he gave a shrug. "Fine...your hero days are over toots. What do you wanna be now? A villain? A cop? A school teacher? The Joker's wife? A murder? A pharmacist? A thief? The world is yours for that taking Mary Marvel....Or is that still your name? That was the name of a hero, will you still dawn that name now? "

Now shaking his head from side to side, he was lost completely as to what was going on. One minute she was being so kind to him. Then out of no where she is ready to steal things? And who knows what else is next? His hand extended out to his side to compliment his next question. "So tell me then. What is going to define you? Who are you going to be?"

Red X then turned away from Mary Marvel and leaped up onto a chimney then looked over her shoulder. "Well then...My burlesque goddess, what did you have in mind for tonight first theft?

[mm]

Gaaaaaaaah She wanted to grip her own head and squeeze it like a melon with the sound of screaming inside her head and all the confusion that flooded it. This whole damn town was topsy turvy. Like she said to X moments ago, and she meant it but he clearly didn't pick up on it, this city was a poison and it had slowly been rotting her from the inside out. Noone had noticed she had masked what was going on inside. She kept what she was feeling hidden from Hawkgirl, from Batman and even from the Man of Steel. there were some things even X-ray vision wasn't good for.

"You just don't get it, handsome." Mary's chest rose and sank with a deep sigh. "You seem confused about everything I just said. Now you know how I feel. Look. It's not so much who I am as who I am becoming. Things change and it's time for me to change. I tried to tell you that a few minutes ago. You have eyes but you can't see. Neither can the heroes I have been working with. Nothing makes sense anymore...until now." She paused for a moment and turned to where Red X had perched himself to look down on her from.

"I know this will sound weird but being around you has made everything clear. Not directly but I am feeling like it's okay to give into the darkness threatening to overwhelm me. I need to give in before it drowns me. Do you have any understanding at all of what I am saying?" She asked, hoping against hope that her discovery of what she thought was someone of like mind wasn't a false hope.

Her thoughts turned back toward Red X's more business like questions, such as what she would call herself now and what would define her when her PDA, the one Batman had given her, the device tucked away very securely in a small pocket within her sash, went off with information on the Riddler's riddle and the answer to it began to beep.

For a moment she thought about ramming a fist into it and telling Batman the device had an unfortunate accident during a fight she was in when a better idea struck her. "You're right. Mary Marvel is the name of a hero and that's not me. No longer from this moment on, but that name could still come in useful." She whispered when, just by willing it through the power of godly magic, her costume's color changed from Black into the style of the familiar white one.

"I've got an idea. Do you think you can create a disguise for me similar to yours? Maybe another codename to use while I wear it also. Meet me here tomorrow night at midnight with it if you can handle this and we'll go from there. I've been pulling the wool over people's eyes well enough so far. The new identity, whatever she is called, I can use that when we are working together, while "Mary Marvel" can still fulfill a purpose if for nothing more than obtaining information that could set the other heroic types up for a fall if you get my drift. What do you think? Or should I just tell the heroes to go f*** themselves and change my name to something like Black Mary?" She paused and scratched her chin before smirking at X once more.

"And if you're serious about wanting this goddess to be your goddess you're going to have to come closer and get in my face to say that. I'm afraid I can't hear you from way up there." She teased and winked at him.

[redx]

Red X could now hear the change that Mary was going through rather than understand it or see it. Her choice of "handsome" was more than enough to signal that something was different about her. She was choosing words that are not her's, or...where not her's. I am in over my head now. Oh well it will always be good to have a heavy hitter on my side just in case something ever happens. Good life line X.

The moon was starting to raise just over his shoulder, giving the area around them a faint glow. His arms crossed over his chest as he little out a mixture of a snicker and a sigh. "Sink or swim Mary. Do whatever you gotta do to survive." He wasn't completely able to resemble what Mary was feeling but that didn't mean that he hasn't shared a similar thing. Lowering down his elbows met his knee's for support.

His mind began to wonder. He wasn't sure if it was the right thing to do or not, but what option did he have? Run and tell Superman? He chuckled to himself slightly. If she wanted to make this transformation and was asking Red for the help then he didn't want her to hate if for not helping, so that was it. His decision was to help her. His attention was taken by the sound coming from Mary. Turning the sound he tilted his head. "A team pager?" He questioned as if he has an idea.

"A double agent? Yeah, I like it. As long as your able to keep up the trick, or the "Wool over their eyes" then use that. You don't even know what your plan is yet so you have to know what their plan is. One step ahead Mary, always one step ahead." Red X's eyes scanned over Mary's body as her clothes where making a transformation. He could fill the adrenaline starting up in his veins as he thought about how she was going to trick the hero's as well as work on his side. Such a plot twist. He couldn't help but love it.

Red X wasn't sure what Mary meant when she told him to come closer, but he wasn't a person to ever back down. Leaping down he moved closer to her, as close as she chose and waited to see what her next move was. After whatever it was he nodded and told Mary to meet him here tomorrow.

Midnight

The wind was moderately cooler tonight than what it was the night before. It was getting closer to winter after all, and Gotham was already pretty cool around this time anyways. His body leaped from roof top to roof top as his satchel bounced up and down off of his back. The satchel that was holding Mary's costume. What was he thinking? Once again, he didn't want Mary to break him in half if she really did go rouge. He wanted her to remain close to him so he wouldn't have to worry about her.

At last he had reached the location that they was at from before, now it was just to wait on her, after all he was about ten minutes early. He preferred make it there first so he could perch up and hid in the shadows.

[mm]

Mary smirked on the inside at how easily she seemed to have the pup eating out of her palm. Almost too easy. He seemed to be intimidated by her, as well he should. Done holding back and living her life by everyone else's rules, it amused her greatly at how Red X seemed to think it was he that sparked the sudden 180 degree turn she'd performed. It had been coming with a slow build for some time and she conned him just like she conned everyone else.. The power within her was more than someone like X could ever dare to stand close to and even now he only basked in her shadow because she allowed it. He was not worthy to lace her boots and he had no idea, it seemed, how dangerous or powerful she really was. Just like all the others, when you play with fire you eventually get burned. Intimidation was helpful if it taught him never to get on her bad side.

When he stepped down and stood nose to nose, she reached up and lifted his mask, leaving it at the bridge of his nose as he had it earlier before grasping his chin between her palms and planting her lips to his, a small smirk and an a look colder than ice on her face before she departed.

---

Midnight the following day

Wrapping Red X around her finger and keeping him securely in place was too important to her plans to let Batman's request of heading to the border to cut the Riddler off slow her down and so unavoidable "personal matters" had kept her from being able to get to the border. That is what she would say when the Dark Knight would inevitably inquire as to why she never made it to the border per his request.

Instead she spent the day laying low, out of sight and out of touch with everyone until the clock struck 12 that evening. The moon silhouetted her form brilliantly as she descended in the black outfit she showed Red X yesterday, descending from the clouds and seeing Red X despite his attempt to hide in the shadows. Coming toward him from above his game of hide and seek would not work again.

"I apologize if I am late." She whispered meekly, hands on her hips after she set her boots on the rooftop and waited to see what he had come up with for her. "Miss me much?"